By Coleman                                       H.B. No. 974

      75R3754 SKB-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the reimbursement for certain medications under the

 1-3     Chronically Ill and Disabled Children's Services Act.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 35, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 35.0041 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 35.0041.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEMOPHILIA FACTOR AND GROWTH

 1-8     HORMONE.  (a)  The department shall set the reimbursement level for

 1-9     hemophilia factor claims made under this chapter at the price set

1-10     for hemophilia factor in accordance with 38 U.S.C. Section 8126,

1-11     plus any additional amount the department determines reasonable as

1-12     a dispensing fee.

1-13           (b)  The department shall use the vendor drug program to

1-14     provide growth hormone to a child receiving growth hormone under

1-15     this chapter, except when another method of providing growth

1-16     hormone is necessary to adequately serve the child.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.