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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 893
77R2387 MCK-DBy: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
3/20/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, to save money on their medications, many pharmacies or other
private companies offer discount programs, or "buyers clubs" in which their
customers can participate.  As proposed, 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 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 office of 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.