This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.
78R4250 PB-D
By: Madden H.B. No. 1599
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation and operation of the advisory committee on
health care coverage issues.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Article 21.51 to read as follows:
Art. 21.51. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
ISSUES
Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee
on health care coverage issues.
(2) "Health care practitioner" means an individual who
is licensed or otherwise regulated by this state to provide health
care services.
(3) "Health insurer" means an insurance company, group
hospital service corporation, or other entity authorized to engage
in the business of health insurance in this state that delivers or
issues for delivery an individual, group, blanket, or franchise
insurance policy or insurance agreement or group hospital service
contract that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses
incurred as a result of an accident or sickness.
(4) "Health maintenance organization" has the meaning
assigned by the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter
20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code).
Sec. 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The advisory committee on
health care coverage issues consists of 15 members appointed by the
commissioner as follows:
(1) three members who are representatives of health
insurers;
(2) three members who are representatives of health
maintenance organizations;
(3) three members who are physicians licensed by the
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine in this
state;
(4) three members who are health care practitioners
other than physicians; and
(5) three public members.
(b) Appointments to the advisory committee shall be made
without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,
or national origin of the appointees.
(c) Members of the advisory committee serve at the pleasure
of the commissioner.
(d) The advisory committee is not subject to Section
2110.008, Government Code.
Sec. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS. (a) A person is not
eligible for appointment as a public member of the advisory
committee if the person or the person's spouse:
(1) is registered, certified, or licensed by the
department or by a regulatory agency in the field of health care;
(2) is employed by or participates in the management
of a business entity or other organization regulated by or
receiving money from the department or a regulatory agency in the
field of health care;
(3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more
than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other
organization regulated by or receiving money from the department or
a regulatory agency in the field of health care; or
(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible
goods, services, or money from the department or a regulatory
agency in the field of health care other than compensation or
reimbursement authorized by law.
(b) A person may not be a member of the advisory committee if
the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305,
Government Code, because of the person's activities for
compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of
the department or a regulatory agency in the field of health care.
Sec. 4. TERMS. Members of the advisory committee serve
staggered six-year terms, with the terms of five members expiring
on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 5. PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS. (a) The commissioner
shall appoint the presiding officer of the advisory committee to
serve in that capacity for one year.
(b) The advisory committee shall meet quarterly and at the
call of the commissioner.
Sec. 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF MEMBER'S EXPENSES. A member of the
advisory committee may not receive compensation for serving on the
advisory committee. A member is eligible for reimbursement for
expenses incurred in performing advisory committee functions only
as provided by Section 2110.004, Government Code.
Sec. 7. DUTIES; REPORTS. (a) The advisory committee shall
study health care coverage problems in this state and make
recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature about
practical and efficient solutions to those problems. In conducting
the study, the advisory committee shall examine:
(1) the benefits provided in this state under health
insurance policies and evidences of coverage;
(2) issues regarding payment of physicians and health
care practitioners by health insurers and health maintenance
organizations;
(3) consumer concerns regarding health care coverage;
and
(4) other issues as specified by the commissioner.
(b) The advisory committee shall report to the commissioner
at least quarterly and as directed by the commissioner.
(c) The advisory committee shall report to the legislature
during each regular legislative session in the manner prescribed by
the commissioner. The report to the legislature may include
recommendations for proposed legislation.
SECTION 2. The commissioner of insurance shall appoint the
initial members of the advisory committee on health care coverage
issues established under Article 21.51, Insurance Code, as added by
this Act, not later than the 30th day after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.