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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to efficiency in the delivery of health and human |
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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. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.024115 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.024115. STREAMLINING OF FORMS AND RECORDS. (a) |
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The commission shall create any form necessary for the |
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administration of the Medicaid program and may not contract with a |
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health care provider to create the forms. |
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(b) The commission shall determine characteristics of |
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cost-effective forms and procedures and use those characteristics |
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to develop the forms under Subsection (a). |
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(c) A form developed under this section may not exceed 10 |
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pages. |
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(d) The commission shall create a database for records |
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storage to facilitate audit procedures and reduce costs associated |
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with records management. |
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(e) The commission shall create a portal on the commission's |
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Internet website designed to facilitate commerce, recordkeeping, |
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communication, and information. The portal must be designed for |
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use by patients, physicians, nurses, commission employees, and |
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private entities. |
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(f) The database under Subsection (d) and portal under |
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Subsection (e) must be designed to protect an individual's personal |
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records and maintain the confidentiality of an individual's |
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information. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Rules relating to health and human services |
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shall be consolidated and reconsidered to increase efficiency in |
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the provision of health and human services. |
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(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall suspend |
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the effective date of any rule adopted by the commission that has |
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not taken effect on the effective date of this Act. |
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(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall report to |
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the executive commissioner of the commission regarding any rule |
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described by Subsection (a) of this section that cannot be |
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reconsidered together with an explanation of the legal reasons the |
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rule cannot be reconsidered. |
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(d) Following consolidation and reconsideration in |
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accordance with this section, the Health and Human Services |
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Commission may adopt final rules on January 1 and July 1. |
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(e) The Health and Human Services Commission shall make |
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every effort to consolidate the commission's rules regarding the |
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Medically Dependent Children Program. In consolidating the rules, |
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the commission must consider the needs of patients, physicians, |
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nurses, and home health agencies. |
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(f) To the extent this section conflicts with the |
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administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code, this |
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section prevails. |
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SECTION 3. The Health and Human Services Commission is not |
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required to comply with any provision of this Act unless money is |
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available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |