1-1     By:  Berlanga, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)    H.B. No. 2913

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 1997;

 1-3     May 16, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 18, 1997, reported adversely, with

 1-5     favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 11,

 1-6     Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2913               By:  Zaffirini

 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-9                                   AN ACT

1-10     relating to the authority of the Health and Human Services

1-11     Commission to administer and operate the Medicaid managed care

1-12     program.

1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-14           SECTION 1.  Section 531.021, Government Code, is amended to

1-15     read as follows:

1-16           Sec. 531.021.  ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAID PROGRAM.  (a)  The

1-17     commission is the state agency designated to administer federal

1-18     medical assistance funds.

1-19           (b)  The commission is responsible for adopting reasonable

1-20     rules and standards governing the determination of fees, charges,

1-21     and rates for medical assistance payments under Chapter 32, Human

1-22     Resources Code.

1-23           (c)  In discharging its duties relating to the Medicaid

1-24     managed care program, the commission shall consult with and

1-25     consider input from the advisory committee created under Section

1-26     531.047 and from each health and human services agency that

1-27     operates part of the Medicaid program.

1-28           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is

1-29     amended by adding Section 531.047 to read as follows:

1-30           Sec. 531.047.  MEDICAID MANAGED CARE INTERAGENCY ADVISORY

1-31     COMMITTEE.  (a)  An interagency advisory committee is created to

1-32     provide assistance and recommendations to the commission relating

1-33     to the policy, administration, evaluation, and operation of the

1-34     Medicaid managed care program.  The advisory committee consists of:

1-35                 (1)  the commissioner or, if designated under

1-36     Subsection (b), the person acting as the state Medicaid director;

1-37                 (2)  a representative of the Texas Department of

1-38     Health, designated by the commissioner of public health;

1-39                 (3)  a representative of the Texas Department of Mental

1-40     Health and Mental Retardation, designated by the commissioner of

1-41     mental health and mental retardation;

1-42                 (4)  a representative of the Texas Department of Human

1-43     Services, designated by the commissioner of human services; and

1-44                 (5)  if considered appropriate by the commissioner, a

1-45     representative of any other state agency with duties relating to

1-46     the Medicaid managed care program, designated by the chief

1-47     administrative officer of that agency.

1-48           (b)  The commissioner may designate the person acting as the

1-49     state Medicaid director to serve on the advisory committee on

1-50     behalf of the commissioner.

1-51           (c)  A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of

1-52     the designating agency.

1-53           (d)  The commissioner or the person acting as the state

1-54     Medicaid director, as applicable, serves as presiding officer of

1-55     the advisory committee, and members of the committee may elect

1-56     other necessary officers.

1-57           (e)  The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the

1-58     presiding officer.  The presiding officer shall call a meeting of

1-59     the committee at least once every two months.

1-60           (f)  The designating agency is responsible for the expenses

1-61     of a member's service on the advisory committee.  A member of the

1-62     advisory committee receives no additional compensation for serving

1-63     on the committee.

1-64           (g)  The advisory committee is not subject to Article

 2-1     6252-33, Revised Statutes.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  (a)  Subtitle I, Title 4, Government Code, is

 2-3     amended by adding Chapter 533 to read as follows:

 2-4                  CHAPTER 533.  IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAID

 2-5                            MANAGED CARE PROGRAM

 2-6                      SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

 2-7           Sec. 533.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

 2-8                 (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services

 2-9     Commission or an agency operating part of the state Medicaid

2-10     managed care program, as appropriate.

2-11                 (2)  "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health

2-12     and human services.

2-13                 (3)  "Health and human services agencies" has the

2-14     meaning assigned by Section 531.001.

2-15                 (4)  "Managed care organization" means a person who is

2-16     authorized or otherwise permitted by law to arrange for or provide

2-17     a managed care plan.

2-18                 (5)  "Managed care plan" means a plan under which a

2-19     person undertakes to provide, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse

2-20     any part of the cost of any health care services.  A part of the

2-21     plan must consist of arranging for or providing health care

2-22     services as distinguished from indemnification against the cost of

2-23     those services on a prepaid basis through insurance or otherwise.

2-24     The term includes a primary care case management provider network.

2-25     The term does not include a plan that indemnifies a person for the

2-26     cost of health care services through insurance.

2-27                 (6)  "Recipient" means a recipient of medical

2-28     assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code.

2-29           Sec. 533.002.  PURPOSE.  The commission shall implement the

2-30     Medicaid managed care program as part of the health care delivery

2-31     system developed under Chapter 532 by contracting with managed care

2-32     organizations in a manner that, to the extent possible:

2-33                 (1)  improves the health of Texans by:

2-34                       (A)  emphasizing prevention;

2-35                       (B)  promoting continuity of care; and

2-36                       (C)  providing a medical home for recipients;

2-37                 (2)  ensures that each recipient receives high quality,

2-38     comprehensive health care services in the recipient's local

2-39     community;

2-40                 (3)  encourages the training of and access to primary

2-41     care physicians and providers;

2-42                 (4)  maximizes cooperation with existing public health

2-43     entities, including local departments of health;

2-44                 (5)  provides incentives to managed care organizations,

2-45     other than managed care organizations created by political

2-46     subdivisions with constitutional or statutory obligations to

2-47     provide health care to indigent patients, to improve the quality of

2-48     health care services for recipients by providing value-added

2-49     services; and

2-50                 (6)  reduces administrative and other nonfinancial

2-51     barriers for recipients in obtaining health care services.

2-52           Sec. 533.003.  CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING CONTRACTS.  In

2-53     awarding contracts to managed care organizations, the commission

2-54     shall:

2-55                 (1)  give extra consideration to organizations that

2-56     agree to assure continuity of care for at least three months beyond

2-57     the period of Medicaid eligibility for recipients; and

2-58                 (2)  consider the need to use different managed care

2-59     plans to meet the needs of different populations.

2-60           Sec. 533.004.  MANDATORY CONTRACTS.  (a)  In providing health

2-61     care services through Medicaid managed care to recipients in a

2-62     health care service region, the commission shall contract with at

2-63     least one managed care organization in that region that:

2-64                 (1)  is created by:

2-65                       (A)  a political subdivision with a

2-66     constitutional or statutory obligation to provide health care to

2-67     indigent patients; or

2-68                       (B)  a nonprofit corporation that has a contract,

2-69     agreement, or other arrangement with a political subdivision

 3-1     described by Paragraph (A) under which the nonprofit corporation

 3-2     assumes that political subdivision's obligation to provide health

 3-3     care to indigent patients and leases, manages, or operates a

 3-4     hospital facility owned by that political subdivision;

 3-5                 (2)  is licensed to provide health care in that region;

 3-6     and

 3-7                 (3)  demonstrates its ability to meet the contractual

 3-8     obligations delineated in the commission's request for applications

 3-9     to enter into a contract with the commission to provide health care

3-10     to recipients in that region.

3-11           (b)  A contract with a managed care organization described in

3-12     Subsection (a) must contain the same requirements and capitation

3-13     rate as contracts with other managed care organizations to provide

3-14     health care services to recipients in that region.

3-15           (c)  If a political subdivision described in Subsection

3-16     (a)(1)(A) has entered into an agreement with the state to provide

3-17     funds for the expansion of Medicaid for children as authorized by

3-18     Chapter 444, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995,

3-19     the commission may not contract with a managed care organization

3-20     described by Subsection (a)(1) unless the political subdivision

3-21     fulfills its obligation under the agreement to provide those funds.

3-22     The commission shall make the provision of those funds under the

3-23     agreement a condition of the continuation of the contract with the

3-24     managed care organization for the organization to provide health

3-25     care services to recipients.

3-26           (d)  The commission shall comply with this section in

3-27     awarding and renewing contracts to provide health care services

3-28     through Medicaid managed care to recipients in a region.

3-29           (e)  Subsection (c) does not apply if:

3-30                 (1)  the commission does not expand Medicaid for

3-31     children as authorized by Chapter 444, Acts of the 74th

3-32     Legislature, Regular Session, 1995; or

3-33                 (2)  a waiver from a federal agency necessary for the

3-34     expansion is not granted.

3-35           Sec. 533.005.  REQUIRED CONTRACT PROVISIONS.  A contract

3-36     between a managed care organization and the commission for the

3-37     organization to provide health care services to recipients must

3-38     contain:

3-39                 (1)  procedures to ensure accountability to the state

3-40     for the provision of health care services, including procedures for

3-41     financial reporting, quality assurance, utilization review, and

3-42     assurance of contract and subcontract compliance;

3-43                 (2)  capitation and provider payment rates that ensure

3-44     the cost-effective provision of quality health care;

3-45                 (3)  a requirement that the managed care organization

3-46     provide ready access to a person who assists recipients in

3-47     resolving issues relating to enrollment, plan administration,

3-48     education and training, access to services, and grievance

3-49     procedures;

3-50                 (4)  a requirement that the managed care organization

3-51     provide ready access to a person who assists providers in resolving

3-52     issues relating to payment, plan administration, education and

3-53     training, and grievance procedures;

3-54                 (5)  a requirement that the managed care organization

3-55     provide information and referral about the availability of

3-56     educational, social, and other community services that could

3-57     benefit a recipient;

3-58                 (6)  procedures for recipient outreach and education;

3-59     and

3-60                 (7)  a requirement that the managed care organization

3-61     make payment to a physician or provider for health care services

3-62     rendered to a recipient under a managed care plan not later than

3-63     the 45th day after the date a claim for payment is received with

3-64     documentation reasonably necessary for the managed care

3-65     organization to process the claim, or within a period, not to

3-66     exceed 60 days, specified by a written agreement between the

3-67     physician or provider and the managed care organization.

3-68           Sec. 533.006.  PROVIDER NETWORKS.  (a)  The commission shall

3-69     require that each managed care organization that contracts with the

 4-1     commission to provide health care services to recipients in a

 4-2     region:

 4-3                 (1)  seek participation in the organization's provider

 4-4     network from each hospital in the region that has been designated

 4-5     as a disproportionate share hospital under the state Medicaid

 4-6     program; and

 4-7                 (2)  include in its provider network for not less than

 4-8     three years:

 4-9                       (A)  each health care provider in the region who:

4-10                             (i)  previously provided care to Medicaid

4-11     and charity care recipients at a significant level as prescribed by

4-12     the commission;

4-13                             (ii)  agrees to accept the prevailing

4-14     provider contract rate of the  managed care organization; and

4-15                             (iii)  has the credentials required by the

4-16     managed care organization, provided that lack of board

4-17     certification or accreditation by the Joint Commission on

4-18     Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations may not be the sole

4-19     ground for exclusion from the provider network;

4-20                       (B)  each accredited primary care residency

4-21     program in the region; and

4-22                       (C)  each disproportionate share hospital

4-23     designated by the commission as a statewide significant traditional

4-24     provider.

4-25           (b)  A contract between a managed care organization and the

4-26     commission for the organization to provide health care services to

4-27     recipients in a health care service region that includes a rural

4-28     area must require that the organization include in its provider

4-29     network rural hospitals, physicians, home and community support

4-30     services agencies, and other rural health care providers who:

4-31                 (1)  are sole community providers;

4-32                 (2)  provide care to Medicaid and charity care

4-33     recipients at a significant level as prescribed by the commission;

4-34                 (3)  agree to accept the prevailing provider contract

4-35     rate of the managed care organization; and

4-36                 (4)  have the credentials required by the managed care

4-37     organization, provided that lack of board certification or

4-38     accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of

4-39     Healthcare Organizations may not be the sole ground for exclusion

4-40     from the provider network.

4-41           Sec. 533.007.  CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.  (a)  The commission

4-42     shall review each managed care organization that contracts with the

4-43     commission to provide health care services to recipients through a

4-44     managed care plan issued by the organization to determine whether

4-45     the organization is prepared to meet its contractual obligations.

4-46           (b)  Each managed care organization that contracts with the

4-47     commission to provide health care services to recipients in a

4-48     health care service region shall submit an implementation plan not

4-49     later than the 90th day before the date on which the commission

4-50     plans to begin to provide health care services to recipients in

4-51     that region through managed care.  The implementation plan must

4-52     include:

4-53                 (1)  specific staffing patterns by function for all

4-54     operations, including enrollment, information systems, member

4-55     services, quality improvement, claims management, case management,

4-56     and provider and recipient training; and

4-57                 (2)  specific time frames for demonstrating

4-58     preparedness for implementation before the date on which the

4-59     commission plans to begin to provide health care services to

4-60     recipients in that region through managed care.

4-61           (c)  The commission shall respond to an implementation plan

4-62     not later than the 10th day after the date a managed care

4-63     organization submits the plan if the plan does not adequately meet

4-64     preparedness guidelines.

4-65           (d)  Each managed care organization that contracts with the

4-66     commission to provide health care services to recipients in a

4-67     region shall submit status reports on the implementation plan not

4-68     later than the 60th day and the 30th day before the date on which

4-69     the commission plans to begin to provide health care services to

 5-1     recipients in that region through managed care and every 30th day

 5-2     after that date until the 180th day after that date.

 5-3           (e)  The commission shall conduct a compliance and readiness

 5-4     review of each managed care organization that contracts with the

 5-5     commission not later than the 15th day before the date on which the

 5-6     commission plans to begin the enrollment process in a region and

 5-7     again not later than the 15th day before the date on which the

 5-8     commission plans to begin to provide health care services to

 5-9     recipients in that region through managed care.  The review must

5-10     include an on-site inspection and tests of service authorization

5-11     and claims payment systems, complaint processing systems, and any

5-12     other process or system required by the contract.

5-13           (f)  The commission may delay enrollment of recipients in a

5-14     managed care plan issued by a managed care organization if the

5-15     review reveals that the managed care organization is not prepared

5-16     to meet its contractual obligations.  The commission shall notify a

5-17     managed care organization of a decision to delay enrollment in a

5-18     plan issued by that organization.

5-19           Sec. 533.008.  MARKETING GUIDELINES.  The commission shall

5-20     establish marketing guidelines for managed care organizations that

5-21     contract with the commission to provide health care services to

5-22     recipients, including guidelines that prohibit:

5-23                 (1)  door-to-door marketing to recipients by managed

5-24     care organizations or agents of those organizations;

5-25                 (2)  the use of marketing materials with inaccurate or

5-26     misleading information;

5-27                 (3)  misrepresentations to recipients or providers;

5-28                 (4)  offering recipients material or financial

5-29     incentives to choose a managed care plan other than nominal gifts

5-30     or free health screenings approved by the commission that the

5-31     managed care organization offers to all recipients regardless of

5-32     whether the recipients enroll in the managed care plan; and

5-33                 (5)  the use of marketing agents who are paid solely by

5-34     commission.

5-35           Sec. 533.009.  SPECIAL DISEASE MANAGEMENT.  (a)  The

5-36     commission shall, to the extent possible, ensure that managed care

5-37     organizations under contract with the commission to provide health

5-38     care services to recipients develop special disease management

5-39     programs to address chronic health conditions, including asthma and

5-40     diabetes.

5-41           (b)  The commission may study, in conjunction with an

5-42     academic center, the benefits and costs of applying disease

5-43     management principles in the delivery of Medicaid managed care.

5-44           Sec. 533.010.  SPECIAL PROTOCOLS.  In conjunction with an

5-45     academic center, the commission may study the treatment of indigent

5-46     populations to develop special protocols for managed care

5-47     organizations to use in providing health care services to

5-48     recipients.

5-49              (Sections 533.011-533.020 reserved for expansion

5-50                 SUBCHAPTER B.  REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

5-51           Sec. 533.021.  APPOINTMENT.  Not later than the 180th day

5-52     before the date the commission plans to begin to provide health

5-53     care services to recipients in a health care service region through

5-54     managed care, the commission, in consultation with health and human

5-55     services agencies, shall appoint a Medicaid managed care advisory

5-56     committee for that region.

5-57           Sec. 533.022.  COMPOSITION.  A committee consists of

5-58     representatives from entities and communities in the region as

5-59     considered necessary by the commission to ensure representation of

5-60     interested persons, including representatives of:

5-61                 (1)  hospitals;

5-62                 (2)  managed care organizations;

5-63                 (3)  primary care providers;

5-64                 (4)  state agencies;

5-65                 (5)  consumer advocates;

5-66                 (6)  recipients; and

5-67                 (7)  rural providers.

5-68           Sec. 533.023.  PRESIDING OFFICER; SUBCOMMITTEES.  The

5-69     commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative serves

 6-1     as the presiding officer of a committee.  The presiding officer may

 6-2     appoint subcommittees as necessary.

 6-3           Sec. 533.024.  MEETINGS.  (a)  A committee shall meet at

 6-4     least quarterly for the first year after appointment of the

 6-5     committee and at least annually after that time.

 6-6           (b)  A committee is subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.

 6-7           Sec. 533.025.  POWERS AND DUTIES.  A committee shall:

 6-8                 (1)  comment on the implementation of Medicaid managed

 6-9     care in the region;

6-10                 (2)  provide recommendations to the commission on the

6-11     improvement of Medicaid managed care in the region not later than

6-12     the 30th day after the date of each committee meeting; and

6-13                 (3)  seek input from the public, including public

6-14     comment at each committee meeting.

6-15           Sec. 533.026.  INFORMATION FROM COMMISSION.  On request, the

6-16     commission shall provide to a committee information relating to

6-17     recipient enrollment and disenrollment, recipient and provider

6-18     complaints, administrative procedures, program expenditures, and

6-19     education and training procedures.

6-20           Sec. 533.027.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.  (a)  A member of

6-21     a committee other than a representative of a health and human

6-22     services agency is not entitled to receive compensation or

6-23     reimbursement for travel expenses.

6-24           (b)  A member of a committee who is an agency representative

6-25     is entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the

6-26     performance of committee duties by the appointing agency in

6-27     accordance with the travel provisions for state employees in the

6-28     General Appropriations Act.

6-29           Sec. 533.028.  OTHER LAW.  Except as provided by this

6-30     chapter, a committee is subject to Article 6252-33, Revised

6-31     Statutes.

6-32           Sec. 533.029.  FUNDING.  The commission shall fund activities

6-33     under this section with money otherwise appropriated for that

6-34     purpose.

6-35           (b)  Not later than December 1, 1998, the Health and Human

6-36     Services Commission shall submit a report to the governor, the

6-37     lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of

6-38     representatives on the impact of Medicaid managed care on the

6-39     public health sector.

6-40           (c)  Not later than the first anniversary of the date on

6-41     which Medicaid recipients in a health care service region begin to

6-42     receive health care services through Medicaid managed care, the

6-43     Health and Human Services Commission, in cooperation with the

6-44     Medicaid managed care advisory committee for that region created

6-45     under Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Government Code, as added by this

6-46     Act, shall submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor,

6-47     and speaker of the house of representatives on the implementation

6-48     of Medicaid managed care in that region.  If Medicaid recipients in

6-49     a region began to receive health care services through managed care

6-50     before September 1, 1996, the commission is required to submit a

6-51     report on the implementation of Medicaid managed care in that

6-52     region as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act.

6-53     The commission may consolidate a report with any other report

6-54     relating to the same subject that the commission is required to

6-55     submit under other law.

6-56           (d)  Section 533.007, Government Code, as added by this Act,

6-57     applies only to a contract with a managed care organization that

6-58     the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating

6-59     part of the Medicaid managed care program enters into or renews on

6-60     or after the effective date of this Act.  A contract with a managed

6-61     care organization that the Health and Human Services Commission or

6-62     an agency operating part of the Medicaid managed care program

6-63     enters into or renews before the effective date of this Act is

6-64     governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and

6-65     that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

6-66           (e)  Section 533.004, Government Code, as added by this Act,

6-67     does not affect the expansion of medical assistance for children

6-68     described in H.C.R. No. 189, 75th Legislature, Regular Session,

6-69     1997.

 7-1           (f)  If Medicaid recipients in a health care service region

 7-2     began to receive health care services through managed care before

 7-3     the effective date of this Act, the Health and Human Services

 7-4     Commission or an agency operating part of the Medicaid managed care

 7-5     program shall appoint a Medicaid managed care advisory committee

 7-6     for that region in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 533,

 7-7     Government Code, as added by this Act, as soon as possible after

 7-8     the effective date of this Act.

 7-9           (g)  This section takes effect immediately.

7-10           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, except

7-11     that Section 3 of this Act takes effect immediately.

7-12           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

7-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

7-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

7-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

7-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

7-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its

7-18     terms, and it is so enacted.

7-19                                  * * * * *