80R2759 DLF/CLG-D

By: Watson S.B. No. 922

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to regional health care programs for employees of small employers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 75 to read as follows: CHAPTER 75. REGIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES OF SMALL EMPLOYERS SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 75.001. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to:

(1) improve the health of employees of small employers and their families by improving the employees' access to health care and by reducing the number of those employees who are uninsured;

(2) reduce the likelihood that those employees and their families will require services from state-funded entitlement programs such as Medicaid;

(3) contribute to economic development by helping small businesses remain competitive with a healthy workforce and health care benefits that will attract employees; and

(4) encourage innovative solutions for providing and funding health care services and benefits.

Sec. 75.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Employee" means an individual employed by an employer. The term includes a partner of a partnership and the proprietor of a sole proprietorship.

(2) "Governing body" means the commissioners courts of the counties participating in a regional health care program or the governing body of the joint council, nonprofit entity exempt from federal taxation, or other entity that operates the program in accordance with this chapter.

(3) "Regional health care program" means a regional health care program established for the benefit of the employees of small employers under Subchapter B.

(4) "Small employer" means a person who employed an average of at least two employees but not more than 50 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least two employees on the first day of the plan year. [Sections 75.003-75.050 reserved for expansion] SUBCHAPTER B. REGIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM

Sec. 75.051. MULTICOUNTY COOPERATION. The commissioners courts of two or more counties may, by joint order, establish or participate in a regional health care program under this subchapter.

Sec. 75.052. GOVERNANCE OF PROGRAM. (a) A regional health care program may be operated subject to the direct governance of the commissioners courts of the participating counties, or the program may be operated by a joint council, tax-exempt nonprofit entity, or other entity that:

(1) operates the program under a contract with the commissioners courts; or

(2) is an entity in which the counties participate or that is established or designated by the commissioners courts to operate the program.

(b) In selecting an entity described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) to operate a regional health care program, the commissioners courts of the participating counties shall require, to the extent possible, that the entity be authorized under federal law to accept donations on a basis that is tax-deductible or otherwise tax-advantaged for the contributor.

Sec. 75.053. OPERATION OF PROGRAM. A regional health care program provides health care services or benefits to the employees of participating small employers who are located within the boundaries of the participating counties. A program may also provide services or benefits to the dependents of those employees.

Sec. 75.054. PARTICIPATION BY SMALL EMPLOYERS; SHARE OF COST. The governing body may establish criteria for participation in a regional health care program by small employers, the employees of the small employers, and their dependents. The criteria must require that participating employers and participating employees pay a share of the premium or other cost of the program.

Sec. 75.055. ADDITIONAL FUNDING. (a) A governing body may accept and use a gift, grant, or donation from any source to operate the regional health care program and to provide services or benefits under the program.

(a-1) A governing body may apply for and receive a grant under Subchapter D to support a regional health care program. This subsection expires September 1, 2009.

(b) A governing body shall actively solicit gifts, grants, and donations to:

(1) fund services and benefits provided under the regional health care program; and

(2) reduce the cost of participation in the program for small employers and their employees. [Sections 75.056-75.100 reserved for expansion] SUBCHAPTER C. HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND BENEFITS

Sec. 75.101. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED; PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. In developing a regional health care plan, a governing body may provide health care services or benefits as described by this subchapter or may develop another type of program to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. A regional health care program must be developed, to the extent practicable, to:

(1) reduce the number of individuals without health benefit plan coverage within the boundaries of participating counties;

(2) address rising health care costs and reduce the cost of health care services or health benefit plan coverage for small employers and their employees within the boundaries of the participating counties;

(3) promote preventative care and reduce the incidence of preventable health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and infants with low birth weight;

(4) promote efficient and collaborative delivery of health care services;

(5) serve as a model for the innovative use of health information technology to promote efficient delivery of health care services, reduce health care costs, and improve the health of the community; and

(6) provide fair payment rates for health care providers.

Sec. 75.102. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN COVERAGE. (a) A regional health care program may provide health care benefits to the employees of small employers by purchasing or facilitating the purchase of health benefit plan coverage for those employees from a health benefit plan issuer, including coverage under:

(1) a small employer health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1501, Insurance Code;

(2) a standard health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1507, Insurance Code; or

(3) any other health benefit plan available in this state.

(b) The governing body may form one or more cooperatives under Subchapter B, Chapter 1501, Insurance Code.

(c) Notwithstanding Chapter 1251, Insurance Code, an insurer may issue a group accident and health insurance policy, including a group contract issued by a group hospital service corporation, to cover the employees of small employers participating in a regional health care program. The group policyholder of a policy issued in accordance with this subsection is the governing body or the designee of the governing body.

(d) A health maintenance organization may issue a health care plan to cover the employees of small employers participating in a regional health care program. The group contract holder of a contract issued in accordance with this subsection is the governing body or the designee of the governing body.

Sec. 75.103. OTHER HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS OR PROGRAMS. To the extent authorized by federal law, the governing body may establish or facilitate the establishment of self-funded health benefit plans or may facilitate the provision of health benefit coverage through health savings accounts and high-deductible health plans.

Sec. 75.104. HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) A regional health care program may contract with health care providers within the boundaries of the participating counties to provide health care services directly to the employees of participating small employers and the dependents of those employees.

(b) A governing body that operates a regional health care program under this section may require that participating employees and dependents obtain health care services only from health care providers that contract to provide those services under the program and may limit the health care services provided under the program to services provided within the boundaries of the participating counties.

(c) A governing body operating a regional health care program operated under this section is not an insurer or health maintenance organization and the program is not subject to regulation by the Texas Department of Insurance. [Sections 75.105-75.150 reserved for expansion] SUBCHAPTER D. GRANTS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

Sec. 75.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the commission.

Sec. 75.152. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The executive commissioner may establish a grant program to support the initial establishment and operation of a regional health care program as a demonstration project in one or more regions of this state.

(b) In selecting grant recipients, the executive commissioner shall consider the extent to which the regional health care program proposed by the applicant accomplishes the purposes of this chapter and meets the objectives established under Section 75.101.

(c) The commission shall establish performance objectives for a grant recipient and shall monitor the performance of the grant recipient.

Sec. 75.153. REVIEW OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT; REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2008, the commission shall complete a review of each regional health care program that receives a grant under this subchapter and shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a report that includes:

(1) an evaluation of the success of regional health care programs in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter; and

(2) the commission's recommendations for any legislation needed to facilitate or improve regional health care programs.

Sec. 75.154. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September 1, 2009.

SECTION 2. The heading to Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBTITLE C. PROGRAMS PROVIDING [INDIGENT] HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND

SERVICES

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, 2007.