HBA-DMH H.B. 2425 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2425
By: Hawley
Public Health
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 76th Legislature enacted a moratorium on further implementation of the
Medicaid managed care program to allow for a period of review and
assessment.  Sunset renewal legislation for the Health and Human Services
Commission was also enacted, which required a report on the impact of
managed care on access, quality of delivery and outcomes, utilization
patterns, statewide Medicaid costs, care coordination, administrative
complexity, traditional providers of indigent care, and marketplace
competition. A statewide Medicaid managed care evaluation workgroup
comprised of industry and consumer stakeholders were organized to provide
input to the evaluation process.  It is questionable whether the necessary
resources and personnel are available to make the changes to the Medicaid
program required by the sunset bill.  House Bill 2425 places a moratorium
on Medicaid managed care pilot programs, behavioral health pilot programs,
or Medicaid Star + Plus pilot programs in a county with a population of
less than 100,000. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2425 amends the Government Code to prohibit the Health and Human
Services Commission from implementing Medicaid managed care pilot programs,
Medicare behavioral health pilot programs, or Medicaid Star + Plus pilot
programs in a county with a population of less than 100,000. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.