By: Turner of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 2163
        (Senate Sponsor - Uresti)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 18, 2009;
  May 19, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
  and Human Services; May 21, 2009, reported favorably by the
  following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a study regarding the provision of certain medications
  through the Medicaid vendor drug program to children younger than
  16 years of age.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.0731 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.0731.  STUDY REGARDING THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN
  MEDICATION TO CHILDREN. (a) The commission shall conduct a study
  to determine the appropriateness and safety of providing
  antipsychotic or neuroleptic medication through the Medicaid
  vendor drug program to children younger than 16 years of age.
         (b)  The study conducted under Subsection (a) must consider
  the following factors relevant to the appropriateness and safety of
  providing the medications to children:
               (1)  the physical and psychological medical diagnosis
  of a child's condition;
               (2)  whether the United States Food and Drug
  Administration has approved a medication for use by a child of a
  certain age;
               (3)  whether a child has successfully taken a
  medication previously;
               (4)  access to quality medical care for a child
  receiving benefits under the program;
               (5)  the standard of care in the medical profession
  regarding the provision of such medications to a child; and
               (6)  any other factor the commission considers
  relevant.
         (c)  Not later than November 10, 2010, the executive
  commissioner shall submit a report containing the results of the
  study conducted under Subsection (a) to the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  and the chairs of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
  and the House Committee on Public Health.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
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