S.B. 691 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 691
By: Madla
State Health Care Expenditures, Select
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) does not review
telemedicine 
services. S.B. 691 requires HHSC to review telemedicine programs to
integrate them into the 
entire health care delivery system.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, 
institution, or agency.

ANALYSIS

The bill directs the HHSC to periodically review policies regarding
reimbursement under the Medicaid program for telemedicine medical services
to identify variations between permissible reimbursement under that
program and reimbursement available to providers under the Medicare
program and to modify rules and procedures applicable to reimbursement
under the Medicaid program for telemedicine medical services as necessary
to provide for a reimbursement system that is comparable to the
reimbursement system for those services under the Medicare program.  

In addition, the HHSC is authorized to review rules and procedures
applicable to reimbursement of telemedicine medical services provided
through any government-funded health program subject to HHSC oversight and
modify rules and procedures to ensure that reimbursement for telemedicine
medical services is provided in a cost-effective manner and only in
circumstances in which the provision of those services is clinically
effective. 

The HHSC is further directed to seek any federal waiver or authorization
that may be needed to implement this legislation.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

This act takes effect September 1, 2003.