83R2831 KKR-D

By: Zerwas H.B. No. 2129

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to information about private health care insurance coverage and the health insurance exchange for individuals applying for certain Department of State Health Services programs and services.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Sections 1001.080 and 1001.081 to read as follows:

Sec. 1001.080. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE INFORMATION. (a) In this section, "individual's legally authorized representative" means:

(1) a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of an individual, if the individual is a minor;

(2) a guardian of an individual, if the individual has been adjudicated incompetent to manage the individual's personal affairs; or

(3) an agent of the individual authorized under a durable power of attorney for health care.

(b) This section applies to a health or mental health program or service provided by the department or under a department program that the department anticipates will be impacted by a health insurance exchange as defined by Section 1001.081(a), including:

(1) programs and services provided by the Texas Center for Infectious Disease under Chapter 13;

(2) community primary health care services provided under Chapter 31;

(3) women's and children's health services provided under Chapter 32;

(4) laboratory services provided under Chapter 33;

(5) services for children with special health care needs provided under Chapter 35;

(6) epilepsy program assistance provided under Chapter 40;

(7) hemophilia program assistance provided under Chapter 41;

(8) kidney health care services provided under Chapter 42;

(9) the indigent health care reimbursement program provided under Chapter 61;

(10) human immunodeficiency virus infection and sexually transmitted disease prevention programs and services provided under Chapter 85;

(11) infectious disease prevention, epidemiology, and surveillance programs and services provided under Chapter 98;

(12) immunization programs provided under Chapter 161;

(13) programs and services provided by the Rio Grande State Center under Chapter 252;

(14) mental health services for adults provided under Chapter 534;

(15) mental health services for children provided under Chapter 534;

(16) community mental health crisis services provided under Chapter 534;

(17) the NorthSTAR Behavioral Health Program provided under Chapter 534;

(18) programs and services provided by community mental health hospitals under Chapter 552;

(19) programs and services provided by state mental health hospitals under Chapter 552; and

(20) any other health or mental health program or service designated by the department.

(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the department may not provide a health or mental health program or service described in Subsection (b), unless the individual applying to receive the program or service submits to the department on the form prescribed by the department a statement by the individual or the individual's legally authorized representative attesting that the individual does not have access to private health care insurance coverage that provides benefits for the services provided under the program or service.

(d) The department may waive the prohibition under Subsection (c) for an individual or for a mental health program or service described in Subsection (b) if the department determines that the program or service is necessary during a crisis or emergency.

(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 1001.081. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE INFORMATION. (a) In this section:

(1) "Health insurance exchange" means an American Health Benefit Exchange administered by the federal government under 42 U.S.C. Section 18041 or created under 42 U.S.C. Section 18031.

(2) "Individual's legally authorized representative" has the meaning assigned by Section 1001.080(a).

(b) The department shall develop informational materials regarding health care insurance coverage and subsidies available under a health insurance exchange. The informational materials must be in English and in Spanish, and to the extent possible, in other languages.

(c) The department shall distribute the informational materials developed under Subsection (b) to an individual or the individual's legally authorized representative who:

(1) applies to receive a health or mental health program or service described in Section 1001.080(b); and

(2) has an income above 100 percent of the federal poverty level.

(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall prescribe the form required by Section 1001.080, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Not later than June 1, 2014, the Department of State Health Services shall make available the informational materials required by Section 1001.081, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. As soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement this Act. The commission may delay implementing this Act until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.