By: Madla S.B. No. 691
(In the Senate - Filed February 25, 2003; March 3, 2003,
read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
Services; April 14, 2003, reported favorably, as amended, by the
following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 14, 2003, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Carona
Amend S.B. No. 691 as follows:
On page 1, line 26, strike "shall", and substitute "may".
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reimbursement for telemedicine medical services under
the Medicaid program and other government-funded programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 531.02173 and 531.02174 to read as
follows:
Sec. 531.02173. ALIGNMENT OF MEDICAID TELEMEDICINE
REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES WITH MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT POLICIES.
(a) The commission shall 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) To the extent practicable, and notwithstanding any
other state law, after conducting a review under Subsection (a) the
commission shall 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) The commission shall 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) In addition to the authority
granted by other law regarding telemedicine medical services, the
commission may 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) The commission may 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) This section does not affect the commission's authority
or duties under other law regarding reimbursement of telemedicine
medical services under the Medicaid program.
SECTION 2. 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,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
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