BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 321
80R1547 ABC-D By: Dukes (Duell)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, local and regional indigent care networks assess new clients in order to determine their eligibility for local, state, and/or federal programs. A patient who is found to be eligible is then required to resubmit the patient's information to the Health and Human Services Commission. Using an electronic database of such information may improve the overall efficiency of the process and to save money for involved parties by removing the step in which the patient resubmits information.
H.B. 321 provides for the implementation of an electronic eligibility information pilot project.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.02413, as follows:
Sec. 531.02413. ELECTRONIC ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION PILOT PROJECT. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a pilot project in at least one urban area of this state to determine certain outcomes of the direct importation of electronic eligibility information from an electronic system operated by a regional indigent care collaborative system (collaborative system).
(b) Requires an area selected for the pilot project to possess a collaborative
system that includes a network of providers and assesses eligibility for health
and human services programs using electronic systems. Requires the electronic
systems used by the collaborative system to be able to interface with
electronic systems managed by HHSC to import application and eligibility
information regarding applicants for health and human service programs.
(c) Requires HHSC to take certain actions in establishing the pilot project.
SECTION 2. Requires HHSC to take action to begin implementation of the pilot project established under Section 531.02413, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 180th day after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. Requires HHSC to assess the cost-effectiveness, efficacy, efficiency, and benefits of using electronic eligibility information imported from electronic systems operated by collaborative systems, and to report findings resulting from the pilot project to the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over health and human services issues, not later than December 1, 2008.
SECTION 4. Authorizes a state agency to delay implementing a provision of this Act until a requested federal waiver or authorization necessary to implement that provision is obtained.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.