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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a workgroup to study and make |
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recommendations on the integration of health and behavioral health |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall establish a workgroup to recommend |
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best practices in policy, training, and service delivery to promote |
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the integration of health and behavioral health services in this |
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state. |
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(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall appoint members to serve on the |
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workgroup. The workgroup must include: |
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(1) at least one representative of the Department of |
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State Health Services; |
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(2) at least one representative of the Department of |
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Aging and Disability Services; |
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(3) at least one representative of the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services; |
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(4) at least one representative of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission; |
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(5) a representative of the Texas Department of |
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Insurance; |
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(6) a representative of a state organization that |
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represents community mental health and mental retardation centers; |
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(7) a representative of a state organization that |
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represents federally qualified health centers; |
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(8) a representative of a state organization that |
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represents substance abuse providers; |
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(9) at least one representative of state associations |
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that represent medical and behavioral health professionals; |
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(10) a representative of a mental health philanthropy |
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that is an administrative unit of a public institution of higher |
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education in this state and that agrees to provide administrative |
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support to the workgroup; and |
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(11) additional members who are recognized experts in |
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integrated health care in the state, who have direct experience |
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with the provision of integrated health care, or who represent the |
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interests of consumers, communities, family members, advocates, |
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business leaders, medical and behavioral health providers, and |
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insurers. |
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(c) The workgroup shall study and make recommendations on |
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the integration of health and behavioral health services in this |
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state. The workgroup may request any information it needs from |
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state agencies, and the state agencies shall comply with the |
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request. |
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(d) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall: |
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(1) not later than October 1, 2009, establish the |
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workgroup as required under Subsection (a) of this section; and |
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(2) not later than August 1, 2010, file with the |
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appropriate committees of the senate and the house of |
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representatives a report that describes the best practices for |
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health and behavioral health integration, barriers to implementing |
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the best practices in this state, and policy considerations for |
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improving integrated service delivery to the citizens of this |
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state. |
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(e) This section expires and the workgroup created under |
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this section is abolished on August 31, 2010. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |