By: Strama, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 3531

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 2011; May 3, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; May 13, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 13, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3531 By: Nelson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a system for monitoring prescriptions of certain drugs under the Medicaid program for children in foster care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 533.0161 to read as follows:

Sec. 533.0161. MONITORING OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN. (a) In this section, "psychotropic drug" has the meaning assigned by Section 261.111, Family Code.

(b) The commission shall implement a system under which the commission will use Medicaid prescription drug data to monitor the prescribing of psychotropic drugs for children who are:

(1) in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and

(2) enrolled in the STAR Health Medicaid managed care program.

(c) The commission shall include as a component of the monitoring system required by this section a medical review of a prescription to which Subsection (b) applies when that review is appropriate.

SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

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