SRC-TJG H.B. 1920 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1920
By: Capelo (Zaffirini)
Health & Human Services
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Texas has participated in the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
since its inception in 1994.  Children eligible for VFC include those of
Native American or Native Alaskan heritage and children on Medicaid.
Texas VFC also provides vaccines for children covered by the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and underinsured children (children whose
insurance company does not provide coverage for vaccines).  According to
the Texas Department of Health, 70 percent of children born in Texas
qualify for VFC.  At present, the fee paid to physicians for administering
vaccines is below the cost of providing the vaccine.  H.B. 1920 attempts
to increase awareness of the Vaccines for Children program and make the
application process less of a burden for providers.  

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, by
adding Section 161.0095, as follows: 
 
Sec. 161.0095.  PROVIDER EDUCATION PROGRAMS.  Requires the Texas
Department of Health (TDH) to develop continuing education programs for
providers relating to immunizations and the vaccines for children program
operated by TDH under authority of 42 U.S.C. Section 1396s, as amended.
Requires TDH to establish a work group to assist TDH in developing the
continuing education programs and materials. Requires the work group to
include physicians, nurses, TDH representatives, representatives of
managed care organizations that provide health care services under Chapter
533, Government Code, representatives of health plan providers that
provide health care services under Chapter 62, and members of the public. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding
Section 531.063, as follows: 
 
Sec. 531.063.  VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM PROVIDER ENROLLMENT AND
REIMBURSEMENT. (a)  Defines "vaccines for children program." 
 
(b)  Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure
that a provider can enroll in the vaccines for children program on the
same form the provider completes to apply as a Medicaid health care
provider. 
 
(c)  Requires HHSC to allow providers to report vaccines administered
under the vaccines for children program to the immunization registry
established under Section 161.007, Health and Safety Code, and to use the
immunization registry, including individually identifiable information in
accordance with state and federal law, to determine whether a child has
received an immunization. 
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.