SRC-TJG C.S.S.B. 493 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 493 78R10309 DLF-DBy: Shapleigh Health & Human Services 3/28/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.S.B. 493 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to regularly evaluate program contractors and subcontractors that provide or arrange for services for persons enrolled in the Medicaid managed care program, and CHIP. HHSC will be required to monitor penetration rates, utilization rates, and provider networks. 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 (HHSC), 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 HHSC to monitor certain activities and rates relating to mental health and substance abuse services. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from original in SECTION 1 by only including the Medicaid managed care program, rather than the entire Medicaid program, in the list of programs the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is required to evaluate to ensure appropriate delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. Deletes the Texas Health Steps program from the list of programs HHSC is required to ensure appropriate delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. Deletes payment arrangements and reimbursement rates from the list of actions HHSC is required to monitor. Differs from original by deleting existing SECTION 2 and redesignating existing SECTION 3 as SECTION 2.