SRC-VRA S.B. 691 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 691
78R6480 KKA-DBy: Madla
Health & Human Services
3/31/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) does not review
telemedicine services.  As proposed, 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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 531B, Government Code, is amended by adding
Sections 531.02173 and 531.02174, as follows: 

Sec. 531.02173.  ALIGNMENT OF MEDICAID TELEMEDICINE REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES
WITH MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES.  (a)  Requires the Health and Human
Services Commission (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. 
 
(b)  Requires HHSC,  to the extent practicable, and notwithstanding any
other state law, after conducting a review under Subsection (a), 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. 
 
(c)  Requires HHSC to perform its duties under this  section with
assistance from the telemedicine advisory committee established under
Section 531.02172. 
 
Sec. 531.02174.  ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY REGARDING TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL
SERVICES.  (a)  Authorizes HHSC,  in addition to the authority granted by
other law regarding telemedicine medical services, to review rules and
procedures applicable to reimbursement of telemedicine medical services
provided through any government-funded health program subject to the
commission's oversight. 
 
(b)  Authorizes HHSC to modify rules and procedures described by
Subsection (a) as necessary 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. 
 
(c)  Provides that this section does not affect HHSC's authority or duties
under other law regarding reimbursement of telemedicine medical services
under the Medicaid program. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the agency affected by the provision, if before
implementing any  provision of this Act a state agency determines that a
waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for
implementation of that provision, to request the waiver or authorization
and authorizes it to delay implementing that provision until the waiver or
authorization is granted. 
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.