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