SRC-JXG S.B. 982 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 982 By: Madla Health Services 7/6/1999 Enrolled DIGEST In 1997, the Legislature passed S.B. 163 to require health plans to provide certain benefits to persons suffering from diabetes, including diabetes equipment, supplies, and self-management training. The Texas Diabetes Council estimates that there are 1.6 million Texans suffering from diabetes; 920,000 diagnosed and 680,000 not diagnosed. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Texas, claiming 12,299 individuals, according to the Bureau of Vital Statistics reports. S.B. 982 will authorize dietitians to provide nutritional diabetes counseling and related diabetes information, and to be reimbursed for that service. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 982 clarifies authorization of certain persons allowed to receive reimbursement for diabetes self-management training. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the licensing board of practitioners or providers in SECTION 1 (Section 4(d), Insurance Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 4, Article 21.53G, Insurance Code, to require diabetes selfmanagement training under this article to be provided by a health care practitioner or provider who is licensed, registered, certified in this state to provide appropriate health care services, acting within the scope of practice authorized by the license, registration or certification of the practitioner or provider. Requires a health benefit plan to provide diabetes self-management training or coverage for diabetes self-management training for which a physician or practitioner has written an order to each insured or the caretaker of the insured from a certain diabetes self-management training program, including a multidisciplinary team to assist in the coordination of certain persons. Defines "nutritional counseling." Authorizes the appropriate licensing board of practitioners or providers authorized to provide diabetes self-management training in accordance with this section, by rule, to determine the recent didactic and experiential preparation in diabetes clinical and educational issues required by this section to qualify licensees of the National Certified Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) to provide the training, and, by rule, to determine and define the component or components of diabetes self-management training authorized by Subsections (ii) and (iii) of Subsection (b), in consultation with the Texas Diabetes Council. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.