SRC-ARR S.B. 1591 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1591
76R7530 JRD-DBy: Zaffirini
Human Services
4/26/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

The Texas Performance Review recommended that Texas implement national
electronic interchange standards for health care claims and streamline
health care data reporting and  processing. Due to widespread frustration
regarding health care claims payments, Congress in 1996 passed legislation
that will require claims payers to support electronic claims processing
using national electronic data interchange (EDI) standards. S.B. 1591 would
require the implementation of national standards for the electronic
processing of health care and health payment information. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1591 requires the implementation of national standards
for the electronic processing of health care and health payment
information. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Health and Human Services Commission
in SECTION 2 (Section 532.002(c), Government Code) of this bill 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2054C, Government Code, by adding Sections
2054.0542 and 2054.0543, as follows:  

Sec. 2054.0542. IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE STANDARDS
FOR HEALTH CARE INFORMATION. Requires each health and human services agency
and every other state agency that acts as a health care provider or a
claims payer for the provision of health care to take certain actions. 

Sec. 2054.0543. HEALTH CLAIMS INFORMATION ON INTERNET. Requires the
(department) and the Texas Health Care Information Council (council) to
develop a plan to make information about claims for the provision of health
care that are paid with state money and information about other claims for
the provision of health care that is collected by the state available
through the Internet, to the extent that the information is not
identifiable to any individual. Requires the department and the council to
submit the plan to the presiding officers of each house of the legislature
not later than November 1, 2001. Provides that this section expires
September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 532.002, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(c), to require the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to
require, by rule, that each contract to carry out the purpose of this
chapter, whether entered into by the commission, by a health and human
services agency acting under Section 532.004, or by an intergovernmental
initiative, to require any contractor that will create, maintain, or
process information related to the provision of or payment for health care
to comply in a timely manner with the national data interchange standards
adopted under Title IIF, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 109.061, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (j), to require the corporation to require eligible coverage to
comply in a timely manner, in connection with the program, with the
national data interchange standards adopted under Title IIF, Health
Insurance  Portability and Accountability Act. 

SECTION 4. Sets forth the establishment of the National Data Interchange
Standards Task Force (task force). Provides that the task force is composed
of the administrative heads of certain state offices and agencies. Provides
that the representative of the Department of Information Resources
(department) is the presiding officer of the task force. Requires the
department to direct the analyses required under this section. Authorizes
the staff of each office and agency represented on the task force to assist
the task force in performing its duties. Requires the task force to
periodically report the results and conclusions of its analyses and
recommend needed legislation to the legislature. Provides that the task
force is abolished September 1, 2005.  

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.