1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to coverage for certain care for children provided through
1-3 certain health benefit plans.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. The Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
1-6 (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) is amended by adding
1-7 Sections 9E and 9F to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 9E. WELL-CHILD CARE FROM BIRTH. (a) In this Act,
1-9 "well-child care from birth" has the meaning used under Section
1-10 1302, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300e-1), and its
1-11 subsequent amendments, and includes newborn screening required by
1-12 the Texas Department of Health.
1-13 (b) Each health maintenance organization shall ensure that
1-14 each health care plan provided by the organization includes
1-15 well-child care from birth that complies with the federal
1-16 requirements adopted under Chapter XI, Public Health Service Act
1-17 (42 U.S.C. Section 300e et seq.), and its subsequent amendments,
1-18 and the rules adopted by the Texas Department of Health to
1-19 implement those requirements.
1-20 Sec. 9F. IMMUNIZATIONS OF CHILDREN. In addition to an
1-21 immunization required under Section 3(a), Article 21.53F, Insurance
1-22 Code, each health maintenance organization shall include in each
1-23 health care plan provided by the organization coverage for
1-24 immunization against rotovirus and any other immunization required
2-1 for a child by statute or rule.
2-2 SECTION 2. Except as provided by Section 3 of this Act, this
2-3 Act takes effect immediately.
2-4 SECTION 3. Section 9F, Texas Health Maintenance Organization
2-5 Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), as added by this
2-6 Act, takes effect September 1, 1999, and applies only to an
2-7 evidence of coverage that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
2-8 renewed on or after January 1, 2000. An evidence of coverage that
2-9 is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1,
2-10 2000, is governed by the law as it existed on the date the evidence
2-11 of coverage was delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed, and
2-12 that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-13 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
2-19 terms, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2748 was passed by the House on May
5, 1999, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2748 on May 26, 1999, and requested
the appointment of a conference committee to consider the
differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the
conference committee report on H.B. No. 2748 on May 30, 1999, by a
non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2748 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
2748 on May 30, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor