AN ACT

 1-1     relating to information and training about Medicaid managed care.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

 1-4     is amended by adding Section 32.043 to read as follows:

 1-5           Sec. 32.043.  MANAGED CARE INFORMATION AND TRAINING PLAN.

 1-6     (a)  Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall

 1-7     develop a comprehensive plan to provide information and training

 1-8     about the requirements of a managed care plan to recipients of

 1-9     medical assistance, providers of medical assistance, local health

1-10     and human services agencies, and other interested parties in each

1-11     service area in which the department plans to provide medical

1-12     assistance through a managed care plan.

1-13           (b)  The department shall include in the comprehensive plan:

1-14                 (1)  180 days of initial information and training in a

1-15     service area beginning not later than the 90th day before the date

1-16     on which the department plans to begin to provide medical

1-17     assistance through a managed care plan in that service area;

1-18                 (2)  additional information and training at regular

1-19     intervals determined by the department; and

1-20                 (3)  performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness

1-21     of the information and training.

1-22           (c)  In developing the comprehensive plan, the department

1-23     shall consult with the Medicaid medical care advisory committee.

 2-1           (d)  The department shall submit to the lieutenant governor,

 2-2     the speaker of the house of representatives, the Senate Health and

 2-3     Human Services Committee, and the House Public Health Committee a

 2-4     semiannual report on the effectiveness of the comprehensive plan

 2-5     developed under this section.  The department may consolidate this

 2-6     report with any other report relating to the same subject that the

 2-7     department is required to submit under other law.

 2-8           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-9     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-13     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-14     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1163 passed the Senate on

         April 28, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that

         the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 18, 1997, by the

         following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1163 passed the House, with

         amendments, on May 16, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 141,

         Nays 0, two present not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor