HBA-NRS H.B. 2498 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2498 By: Haggerty Insurance 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of Texas to find a cost-effective manner of delivering health care services through affordable health care plans to citizens residing on both side of the Texas-Mexico border and further finds that the provision of health care coverage in the border area is not conducive to preventive care and prenatal care, or to the provision of a medical home for binational families. House Bill 2498 establishes an interim committee to study the provision of binational health benefit plan coverage. 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 2498 establishes an interim committee to study the provision of binational health benefit plan coverage. The bill requires the interim committee to hold hearings in the border areas of the state to determine the need for binational health benefit plan coverage, to assess the health care needs of the border area and how those needs can be served by various types of providers, and to assess the affordability, cost-effectiveness, economic impact, and improved health status achievable through binational health benefit plan coverage. The bill requires the interim committee to file a committee report with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives no later than October 1, 2002. The bill expires December 31, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.