1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment of a medical assistance pilot program 1-3 for the management of children's asthma and to the establishment of 1-4 an asthma and allergy research advisory committee. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 531.021912 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 531.021912. MEDICAID DISEASE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM 1-9 FOR CHILDREN'S ASTHMA. (a) The commission by rule shall develop a 1-10 Medicaid disease management pilot program for children's asthma for 1-11 implementation in counties, selected by the Texas Department of 1-12 Health, with a high incidence of children's asthma and a high rate 1-13 of hospital emergency room care for the treatment of children's 1-14 asthma. 1-15 (b) The pilot program shall provide continuous care, case 1-16 management, and asthma education to Medicaid recipients younger 1-17 than 19 years of age who have been hospitalized or received 1-18 emergency care services for asthma. The program shall also provide 1-19 health care provider education to ensure the appropriate use of 1-20 specialized asthma treatments for those recipients. In developing 1-21 the program, the commission shall consider the disease management 1-22 pilot programs for Medicaid recipients with asthma operated in 1-23 Virginia and Florida. 1-24 (c) The Texas Department of Health shall administer the 1-25 pilot program under the direction of the commission, and the 2-1 commission and the department shall implement the program not later 2-2 than November 1, 2001. In implementing the program, the commission 2-3 and the department, to the extent possible, shall use the services 2-4 of local health care professionals. 2-5 (d) Not later than December 1, 2004, the commission shall 2-6 submit a report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the 2-7 house of representatives on the effectiveness, including the 2-8 cost-effectiveness, of the pilot program. The report must include: 2-9 (1) an evaluation of the effects of the program on 2-10 hospitalization rates and emergency room admissions of program 2-11 participants; and 2-12 (2) recommendations for changes in or expansion of the 2-13 program. 2-14 (e) The commission may write the report under Subsection (d) 2-15 in conjunction with an academic medical center or a nonprofit 2-16 organization with experience in clinically focused, 2-17 simulation-based disease management analysis. 2-18 (f) This section expires September 1, 2005. 2-19 SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner of public health shall 2-20 establish an asthma and allergy research advisory committee. 2-21 (b) The asthma and allergy research advisory committee is 2-22 composed of nine members appointed by the governor, in consultation 2-23 with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of 2-24 representatives. 2-25 (c) The governor shall select members of the asthma and 2-26 allergy research advisory committee based on the members' 3-1 experience, expertise, or special interest in asthma and allergy 3-2 and: 3-3 (1) asthma and allergy education; 3-4 (2) indoor air quality; 3-5 (3) the public school system and its dealings with 3-6 children with asthma and an allergy; 3-7 (4) epidemiology; 3-8 (5) pharmacology; 3-9 (6) parenting a child with asthma or an allergy; or 3-10 (7) immunology. 3-11 (d) The commissioner of public health shall select a member 3-12 of the asthma and allergy research advisory committee to serve as 3-13 the presiding officer of the committee. The presiding officer may 3-14 not be an officer or employee of the state. 3-15 (e) The asthma and allergy research advisory committee 3-16 shall: 3-17 (1) develop a plan to research asthma and allergy and 3-18 medical conditions associated with asthma and allergy in this 3-19 state; 3-20 (2) assess the resources and talent of institutions in 3-21 this state as possible sites for research opportunities; 3-22 (3) analyze the impact of asthma and allergy on the 3-23 economy of this state and on the health of the residents of this 3-24 state; and 3-25 (4) make recommendations to the legislature and 3-26 governor concerning research programs in asthma and allergy and 4-1 funding alternatives for the programs. 4-2 (f) The asthma and allergy research advisory committee shall 4-3 meet at least four times as determined by the presiding officer. A 4-4 professional facilitator with experience in strategic planning 4-5 shall facilitate meetings of the committee. 4-6 (g) A member of the asthma and allergy research advisory 4-7 committee may not receive compensation for service on the committee 4-8 but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and necessary 4-9 travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the 4-10 business of the committee as provided by general law and the 4-11 General Appropriations Act. 4-12 (h) Not later than December 1, 2002, the commissioner of 4-13 public health shall submit a report prepared by the asthma and 4-14 allergy research advisory committee to the governor, lieutenant 4-15 governor, and speaker of the house of representatives regarding 4-16 asthma and allergy that comprehensively addresses the issues listed 4-17 in Subsection (e) of this section. 4-18 SECTION 3. (a) The governor shall appoint members to the 4-19 asthma and allergy research advisory committee not later than the 4-20 90th day after the effective date of this Act. 4-21 (b) The asthma and allergy research advisory committee is 4-22 abolished January 1, 2003. 4-23 (c) This section and Section 2 of this Act requiring the 4-24 establishment of the asthma and allergy research advisory committee 4-25 expire September 1, 2003. 4-26 SECTION 4. If before implementing this Act the Health and 5-1 Human Services Commission determines that a waiver or authorization 5-2 from a federal agency is necessary for implementation, the 5-3 commission shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay 5-4 implementing this section until the waiver or authorization is 5-5 granted. 5-6 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 616 passed the Senate on March 29, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 24, 2001, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 616 passed the House, with amendments, on May 17, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor