79R2374 KCR-D

By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 367



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision to certain political subdivisions of 
claims cost information for health and accident coverage.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 172, Local Government Code, is amended 
by adding Section 172.017 to read as follows:
	Sec. 172.017.  CLAIMS COST INFORMATION.  (a)  On the request 
of a political subdivision that is a member of a risk pool 
established under this chapter, the risk pool or another entity 
providing health and accident coverage to the risk pool, as 
applicable, shall provide to the requesting political subdivision 
the claims cost information for individuals participating in the 
health and accident coverage through the requesting political 
subdivision during the preceding calendar year.
	(b)  Claims cost information provided under this section:               
		(1)  may be provided in the aggregate or on a detailed 
basis;        
		(2)  must be provided separately for each month during 
which the health and accident coverage was in effect; and
		(3)  may not include information, including diagnosis 
code information, that may be used to identify a specific 
individual participating in the health and accident coverage or a 
diagnosis of that individual.
	(c)  Information obtained by a political subdivision under 
this section is confidential and may be used by the political 
subdivision only for purposes relating to obtaining or maintaining 
health and accident coverage for eligible individuals.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to health and accident coverage that is delivered, issued for 
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2006. Health and 
accident coverage that is delivered, issued for delivery, or 
renewed before January 1, 2006, is covered by the law in effect 
immediately before January 1, 2006, and the former law is continued 
in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.