1-1  By:  Madla, Zaffirini                                  S.B. No. 603
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed February 16, 1995; February 16, 1995,
    1-3  read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
    1-4  Services; March 16, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
    1-5  Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 16, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-7                                AN ACT
    1-8  relating to certain health care providers under a managed care
    1-9  Medicaid program.
   1-10        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-11        SECTION 1.  Section 16, Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes,
   1-12  is amended to read as follows:
   1-13        Sec. 16.  ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAID PROGRAM.  (a)  On
   1-14  approval by the federal government, the commission is the state
   1-15  agency designated to administer federal medical assistance funds.
   1-16        (b)  In adopting rules implementing a managed care Medicaid
   1-17  program, the commission shall:
   1-18              (1)  ensure that in developing the provider network
   1-19  extra consideration is given to a health care provider who has
   1-20  traditionally provided care to Medicaid and charity care patients;
   1-21  and
   1-22              (2)  require that a managed care organization include
   1-23  in its provider network, for not less than three years, each
   1-24  primary care physician who:
   1-25                    (A)  previously provided care to Medicaid and
   1-26  charity care patients at a level prescribed by the commission; and
   1-27                    (B)  agrees to accept the organization's standard
   1-28  provider reimbursement rate.
   1-29        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-30  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-31  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-32  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-33  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-34  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-35  passage, and it is so enacted.
   1-36                               * * * * *