BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In recent years, wellness policies and programs in both the private and public sector have become more prevalent. As these programs have been implemented, experience has shown that programs with higher employee participation and devoted sponsoring entities are more successful. Interested parties assert that the most successful wellness programs include financial incentives for employee participation and on-site clinics and pharmacy services provided by the employer.
C.S.H.B. 2020 seeks to allow state agencies to develop and implement wellness programs that provide such financial incentives and services in an effort to curb increasing costs related to chronic health conditions and disease management and to help state employees benefit from reduced health care costs and live happier, more productive lives.
C.S.H.B. 2020 amends current law relating to the adoption of wellness policies and programs by state agencies.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 664.053(e), Government Code, to authorize a state agency to develop a wellness program designed to increase work productivity and capacity and reduce health insurance costs or implement a wellness program based on the model program or components of the model program developed under this section (Creation of Model Program; Designation of Coordinator).
SECTION 2. Amends Section 664.061, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 664.061. AGENCY WELLNESS POLICIES. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Authorizes a state agency to:
(1) allow each employee 30 minutes during normal working hours for exercise three times each week;
(2) allow all employees to attend on-site wellness seminars when offered;
(3) provide eight hours of additional leave time each year to an employee who receives a physical examination and completes either an online health risk assessment tool provided by the board or a similar health risk assessment conducted in person by a worksite wellness coordinator;
(4) provide financial incentives for participation in a wellness program developed under Section 664.053(e) after the agency establishes a written policy with objective criteria for providing the incentives;
(5) offer on-site clinic or pharmacy services in accordance with Subtitles B (Physicians) and J (Pharmacy and Pharmacists), Title 3 (Health Professions), Occupations Code, including the requirements regarding delegation of certain medical acts under Chapter 157 (Authority of Physician to Delegate Certain Medical Acts), Occupations Code; and
(6) adopt additional wellness policies, as determined by the agency.
(b) Authorizes a state agency, in addition to the requirements of Section 2254.003 (Selection of Provider; Fees), in awarding a contract for on-site clinic or pharmacy services as provided by Subsection (a)(5), to consider whether the on-site clinic services will be provided by a physician-led organization that has its principal place of business in this state.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.