HBA-MSH S.B. 616 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 616 By: Van de Putte Public Health 5/8/2001 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the American Lung Association of Texas, more than one million Texans suffer from asthma, one-third of them children. Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness and school absenteeism in children and teens. The Texas Medicaid program provided treatment for more than 123,000 asthma patients at a total cost of $41.6 million in fiscal year 1999. Asthma treatment and management programs have the potential to improve patient care and reduce the costs associated with asthma by reducing asthma related emergency room visits. Senate Bill 616 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to create a disease management pilot program for children's asthma. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services Commissioner in SECTION 1 (Section 531.021912, Government Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 616 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop by rule a Medicaid disease management pilot program (program) for children's asthma for implementation in counties selected by the Texas Department of Heath with high incidence of children's asthma and a high rate of hospital emergency room care for the treatment of children's asthma. The bill requires the program to provide continuous care, case management, and asthma education to Medicaid recipients younger than 19 years of age who have been hospitalized or received emergency care services for asthma. The program is also required to provide health care provider education to ensure the appropriate use of specialized asthma treatments. The bill sets forth requirements for the development, administration, and implementation of the program. The bill requires HHSC to report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives on the effectiveness of the program not later than December 1, 2004. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 requires the commissioner of public health to establish an asthma and allergy research advisory committee (committee) composed of nine members appointed by the governor in consultation with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives. The amendment sets forth provisions relating to the qualifications of the committee members and the administration and operation of the committee. The amendment requires the committee to develop a plan to research asthma and allergy and related medical conditions in this state, assess the resources and talent of institutions in this state as possible sites for research opportunities, analyze the impact of asthma and allergy on the economy and health of the residents of this state, and make recommendations to the legislature and governor concerning research programs in asthma and allergy and funding alternatives for the programs. The amendment requires the committee not later than December 1, 2002 to submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives regarding asthma and allergy that comprehensively addresses the issues the committee is required to research. The amendment provides that the committee is abolished January 1, 2003 and the provisions regarding the committee expire September 1, 2003.