SRC-TJG S.B. 493 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 493
78R637 DLF-DBy: Shapleigh
Health & Human Services
3/10/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the level of funding that the Texas Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) receives enables TDMHMR to serve only
about 27 percent of children in TDMHMR's projected priority population.
As a result, more than 110,000 Texas children who may qualify for publicly
funded mental health services remain untreated.  As proposed, S.B. 493
requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) to regularly
evaluate program contractors and subcontractors that provide or arrange
for services for persons enrolled in Medicaid, including the managed care
Medicaid program, CHIP, and the Texas Health Steps Program, including the
comprehensive care program.  HHS will be required to monitor payment
arrangements, penetration rates, utilization rates, provider networks, and
reimbursement rates.   

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 531B, Government Code, by adding Section
531.0224, as follows: 

Sec. 531.0224.  MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.  (a) Requires
the Health and Human Services Commission (HHS), to ensure appropriate
delivery of mental health and substance abuse services, to regularly
evaluate program contractors and subcontractors that provide or arrange
for the services of persons enrolled in certain programs. 

(b) Requires HHS to monitor certain activities and rates relating to
mental health and substance abuse services. 

SECTION 2.  Requires HHS to prepare a report concerning certain
alternatives that may be used to fund expansion of the range of mental
health and substance abuse services provided to persons enrolled in the
Medicaid program.  Requires HHS, not later than December 1, 2005, to
submit the report for the consideration of the committees of the senate
and house of representatives with jurisdiction over the Medicaid program. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.