79R488 UM-D

By:  Nelson                                                       S.B. No. 47 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Medicaid fraud reduction pilot program.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 531.1063(g), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(g)  The commission shall implement [may extend] the program 
statewide [to additional counties] if the commission determines 
that statewide implementation [expansion] would be cost-effective.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  In addition to the report required by 
Section 2.23(c), Chapter 198, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular 
Session, 2003, the Health and Human Services Commission shall 
report, not later than February 1, 2006, on the status and progress 
of the Medicaid fraud reduction pilot program required by Section 
531.1063, Government Code, to the governor, lieutenant governor, 
speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of 
each standing committee of the senate and house of representatives 
having jurisdiction over the state Medicaid program.
	(b)  The report must include:                                                  
		(1)  a continued evaluation of the benefits of the 
program;                 
		(2)  an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of 
the program;          
		(3)  information concerning the cost-effectiveness of 
the program; and      
		(4)  if the program has been implemented statewide, any 
significant problems encountered.
	SECTION 3.  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 4.  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, 2005.