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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the maintenance of health care provider lists under the |
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Medicaid and child health plan programs. |
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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 531.0393 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0393. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LISTS UNDER CERTAIN |
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HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS AND PROGRAMS. The commission shall include |
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in each contract between the commission and a health benefits plan |
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provider under the Medicaid program, including the STAR program or |
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any other Medicaid managed care program, or the child health plan |
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program a requirement that the health benefits plan provider |
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maintain accurate and comprehensive lists of health care providers |
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providing services to enrollees under the health benefits plan. |
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Each list of health care providers must: |
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(1) be updated at least as frequently as required by |
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the commission in the contract; and |
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(2) indicate which health care providers providing |
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services to enrollees under the health benefits plan are no longer |
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accepting new patients. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Section 531.0393, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies to a contract entered into or renewed on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) To the extent permitted by law or the terms of the |
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contract, the Health and Human Services Commission shall amend a |
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contract entered into before the effective date of this Act with a |
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health benefits plan provider to require compliance with Section |
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531.0393, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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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, 2009. |