SRC-JXG H.B. 1285 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1285
76R9191 KKA-DBy: Janek (Nelson)
Health Services
5/3/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not require the presence of a child's parent or
guardian during a visit to the child's Medicaid primary care physician.
Some questions regarding physician reimbursement from Medicaid have been
raised, because of the lack of a witness to treatment. H.B. 1285 would
require the Texas Department of Human Services to require a child younger
than 15 to be accompanied by the child's parent, guardian, or another adult
authorized by the parent or guardian to accompany the child at a visit or
screening as a condition of eligibility for physician reimbursement under
Medicaid.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1285 requires a child to be accompanied at a medical
visit or screening by an adult authorized by the child's parent or guardian
if the child is under 15, in order to be reimbursed for the costs of the
visit or screening 

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 Section 32.024(s), Human Resources Code, to require the
Texas Department of Human Services, in its rules governing the early and
periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program, to require, as a
condition for eligibility for reimbursement under the program for the cost
of services provided at a visit or screening, that a child younger than 15
years of age be accompanied at the visit or screening by the child's parent
or guardian, or another adult, including an adult related to the child,
authorized by the child's parent or guardian to accompany the child. Makes
conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Requires a state agency to request the waiver or authorization
and to delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization
is granted, if before implementing any provision of this Act the state
agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is
necessary for implementation. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.