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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the health benefit plan innovations |
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program in the Texas Department of Insurance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 5, Insurance Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 525 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 525. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN INNOVATIONS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 525.001. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. (a) The department |
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shall develop and implement a health benefit plan innovations |
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program to study the number of uninsured individuals in this state, |
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the reasons those individuals are uninsured, and possible solutions |
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that would expand access to affordable health benefit plan coverage |
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in this state. |
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(b) The department shall use department employees already |
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employed in the research and analysis area of the life/health |
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division of the department to implement the program. The |
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department may not hire full-time employees whose primary job |
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functions would solely be implementation of the program. |
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Sec. 525.002. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. (a) The program |
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implemented under this chapter must: |
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(1) collect and analyze data concerning the number, |
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age, and demographic characteristics of uninsured individuals in |
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this state; |
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(2) identify the reasons why individuals in this state |
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are uninsured; |
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(3) examine and evaluate the effectiveness of programs |
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implemented in other states to reduce the number of uninsured |
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residents in those states; |
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(4) monitor and evaluate the health benefit market in |
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this state and determine whether residents of this state have |
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sufficient access to a variety of health benefit plan products to |
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ensure adequate health benefit plan coverage; and |
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(5) make recommendations to the legislature |
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concerning programs or initiatives to be implemented in this state |
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to reduce the number of uninsured residents in this state. |
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(b) The department shall coordinate program components that |
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involve market and cost research or data collection and analysis |
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with health benefit plan issuers and the Health and Human Services |
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Commission to ensure the collection and analysis of complete and |
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accurate information. |
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Sec. 525.003. REPORT. The department shall include in its |
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biennial report to the legislature under Section 32.022 the |
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program's findings concerning the information and recommendations |
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described by Section 525.002. |
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Sec. 525.004. FUNDING. The department may accept gifts and |
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grants from any party, including a health benefit plan issuer or a |
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foundation associated with a health benefit plan issuer, to assist |
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with funding the program. The department shall adopt rules |
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governing acceptance of donations that are consistent with Chapter |
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575, Government Code. Before adopting rules under this section, |
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the department shall: |
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(1) submit the proposed rules to the Texas Ethics |
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Commission for review; and |
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(2) consider that commission's recommendations |
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regarding the proposed rules. |
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Sec. 525.005. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as |
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necessary to implement this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |