SRC-EPT, TBR S.B. 893 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 893
By: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
6/14/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

To save money on their medications, many pharmacies or other private
companies offer discount programs, or "buyers clubs" in which their
customers can participate.  S.B. 893 requires the Health Care Information
Council to compile information that consumers can use to evaluate these
clubs and make an informed choice when choosing among the clubs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 108, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
108.0062, as follows: 

Sec. 108.0062.  DRUG PURCHASING COOPERATIVES.  (a)  Requires the Texas
Health Care Information Council (council) to develop criteria for
evaluating drug purchasing cooperatives that purchase drugs on behalf of
consumers and create an evaluation form for consumers to evaluate drug
purchasing cooperatives. 

(b)  Requires the council to distribute the evaluation forms to the
department, local health departments, the Texas Department of Insurance,
and the consumer protection division of the office of the attorney general. 

(c)  Requires the council to compile the information from completed
evaluation forms and make the information available to the public. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.