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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the implementation of specialized targeted initiatives |
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and other actions necessary to comply with certain settlement |
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agreements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02114 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02114. IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIALIZED TARGETED |
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INITIATIVES OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS. (a) Notwithstanding any other |
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law, including any provision of this chapter or Chapter 533 or of |
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Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, and subject to available |
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appropriations, the commission may take any necessary action, |
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including obtaining any necessary waiver or other authorization |
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from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or another |
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appropriate federal agency, to implement the specialized targeted |
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initiatives and any other requirements specified in the final |
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settlement agreement in the case styled Frew, on behalf of her |
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daughter, Frew, et al. v. Hawkins, Commissioner, Texas Health and |
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Human Services Commission, et al., approved by the United States |
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District Court, Eastern District of Texas. |
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(b) Specialized targeted initiatives the commission may |
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implement or other actions the commission may take, subject to the |
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requirements of the settlement agreement, include initiatives OR |
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actions to: |
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(1) improve outreach efforts and access to information |
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with respect to the children's Medicaid program, including to |
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improve access to information provided through toll-free telephone |
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numbers; |
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(2) improve access to information about and services |
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under the early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment |
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program; |
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(3) increase reimbursement rates for health and dental |
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services provided through the children's Medicaid program; |
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(4) update listings of Medicaid providers for health |
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and dental services and increase the number of those providers; |
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(5) hire additional staff to assist families in |
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accessing Medicaid services; |
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(6) increase access to services by improving the |
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medical transportation program for Medicaid recipients; and |
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(7) enhance standards for the delivery of children's |
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Medicaid services through Medicaid managed care delivery models |
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under Chapter 533. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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may develop and implement a program to provide repayment assistance |
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for education loans incurred by physicians, dentists, and other |
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health or dental care providers who agree to provide services |
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through the medical assistance program operated under Chapter 32, |
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Human Resources Code, in underserved areas of this state, subject |
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to available appropriations and to the extent implementation of the |
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program is necessary to comply with the final settlement agreement |
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in the case styled Frew, on behalf of her daughter, Frew, et al. v. |
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Hawkins, Commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, |
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et al., approved by the United States District Court, Eastern |
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District of Texas. The coordinating board shall model the |
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repayment program under this section after the repayment assistance |
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program authorized by Subchapter J, Chapter 61, Education Code, but |
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may deviate from the requirements of the program under that |
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subchapter as necessary to comply with the requirements of the |
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settlement agreement and to reflect differences in the eligibility |
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criteria for the repayment assistance program under this section. |
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SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any other law, each state agency |
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may take all necessary actions, subject to available |
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appropriations, to implement the specialized targeted initiatives |
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and any other requirements specified in the final settlement |
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agreement in the case styled Frew, on behalf of her daughter, Frew, |
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et al. v. Hawkins, Commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services |
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Commission, et al., approved by the United States District Court, |
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Eastern District of Texas. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |