SRC-SLL H.B. 1211 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1211
76R5402 DLF-FBy: Averitt (Sibley)
Economic Development
5/11/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Health Insurance Portability and Availability Act regulates
Texas' small and large employer insurance market.  Each small employer
carrier must provide the small employer health benefit plans without regard
to health status related factors.  Each small employer carrier is required
to issue the plan chosen by the small employer to each small employer that
elects to be covered under that plan and agrees to satisfy the other
requirements of the plan.  H.B.  1211 would clarify  language with regard
to small employer plans offered by health maintenance organizations in
Texas. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1211 clarifies  language with regard to small employer
plans offered by health maintenance organizations in Texas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 26.48(a), Insurance Code, to authorize a health
maintenance organization to offer a state-approved health benefit plan that
complies with this chapter, the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
(Chapter 20A, V.T.I.C.), Title XIII, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
Section 300e et seq.), and its subsequent amendments, and rules adopted
under these laws, rather than under that Act.  Deletes existing text
regarding small employer health benefit plans. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.