By Janek                                              H.B. No. 1285
         76R3952 KKA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring attendance of a child's parent or guardian at
 1-3     well-child examinations under the state Medicaid program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 32.024(s), Human Resources Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (s)  The department, in its rules governing the early and
 1-8     periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program, shall:
 1-9                 (1)  revise the periodicity schedule to allow for
1-10     periodic visits at least as often as the frequency recommended by
1-11     the American Academy  of Pediatrics and allow for interperiodic
1-12     screens without prior approval when there are indications that it
1-13     is medically necessary; and
1-14                 (2)  require that a child be accompanied by the child's
1-15     parent or guardian at a visit or screening as a condition of
1-16     eligibility for reimbursement under the program for the cost of
1-17     services provided at the visit or screening.
1-18           SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
1-19     a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
1-20     federal agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency
1-21     shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay
1-22     implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is
1-23     granted.
1-24           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-1           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.