By Zaffirini, et al.                            S.B. No. 1163

      75R5884 SAW-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to information and training about Medicaid managed care.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 32.043 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 32.043.  MANAGED CARE INFORMATION AND TRAINING PLAN.

 1-7     (a)  The department shall develop a plan to provide information and

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

 1-9     recipients of medical assistance, providers of medical assistance,

1-10     local health and human services agencies, and other interested

1-11     parties in each service area in which the department plans to

1-12     provide medical assistance through a managed care plan.

1-13           (b)  The department shall provide initial information and

1-14     training in a service area not later than the 90th day before the

1-15     date on which the department plans to begin to provide medical

1-16     assistance through a managed care plan in that service area.  After

1-17     the initial information and training, the department shall provide

1-18     information and training at regular intervals determined by the

1-19     department.

1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.