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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot project to determine the most efficient |
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transportation service delivery model for the Medicaid medical |
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transportation program. |
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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 531.024141 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.024141. MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PILOT |
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PROJECT. (a) In this section, "medical transportation program" has |
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the meaning assigned by Section 531.02414. |
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(b) The commission shall develop and implement a pilot |
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project to determine the most efficient delivery model for the |
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medical transportation program. The project must implement one or |
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more of the following transportation service delivery models in |
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various health care service regions in this state: |
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(1) a full-risk broker model; |
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(2) a managed care model; |
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(3) a model that maintains and expands structures for |
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delivery of medical transportation services existing on January 1, |
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2013; |
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(4) a model incorporating contracts with rural and |
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urban transit agencies for delivery of medical transportation |
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services; and |
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(5) a hybrid model that incorporates different |
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elements of the other models listed in this subsection. |
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(c) In selecting the regions to participate in the pilot |
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project and the transportation service delivery model to implement |
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in a selected region, the commission shall consider geographic and |
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client needs and existing transportation infrastructure in the |
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regions. |
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(d) The commission shall contract with an independent |
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private entity to assist the commission in developing, |
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implementing, and evaluating the pilot project. A contract between |
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the commission and a private entity shall require that the private |
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entity: |
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(1) assist the commission in developing outcome |
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measures and evaluation criteria that are capable of determining |
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operation efficiency and cost-effectiveness of each of the |
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transportation service delivery models implemented under this |
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section; |
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(2) conduct an evaluation of the results of the pilot |
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project based on identified outcome measures and criteria; and |
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(3) produce a report that is based on the evaluation |
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that contains: |
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(A) a summary of the operation of the different |
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implemented transportation service delivery models and the |
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identified outcome measures and evaluation criteria for each model; |
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(B) an assessment of the relative operation |
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efficiency and cost-effectiveness of each model; |
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(C) a recommendation regarding the model that is |
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most efficiently operated and most cost-effective; and |
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(D) a recommendation as to whether the model |
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identified in Paragraph (C) should be implemented statewide. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2014, the commission shall |
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submit to the legislature the report produced in accordance with |
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Subsection (d)(3) and a description of any action the commission |
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has taken or intends to take based on the report. The commission |
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shall also hold periodic briefings on the commission's own |
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initiative or at the legislature's request to inform the |
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legislature of the progress of the pilot project. |
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(f) The commission may not change a transportation service |
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delivery model or implement a new model in a health care service |
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region that is not selected for inclusion in the pilot project under |
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Subsection (b): |
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(1) until the legislature has had an opportunity to |
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review the report under Subsection (d)(3); and |
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(2) unless the revised or new model is the model |
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identified by the private entity in Subsection (d)(3)(C). |
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(g) The commission shall allow a medical transportation |
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service provider delivering service on August 1, 2013, under a |
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full-risk broker model to continue operating according to the |
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contract between the commission and the provider, but the |
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commission may not, subject to Subsection (f), implement the |
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full-risk broker model in any additional health care service |
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regions, including a region in which the pilot project is |
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implemented. |
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(h) If the commission chooses to implement a managed care |
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model in a health care service region as part of the pilot project, |
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the commission may do so only in a region in which Medicaid health |
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care services have been delivered using a managed care model for at |
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least two years at the time the commission implements a managed care |
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transportation service delivery model as part of the pilot project. |
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(i) The commission shall seek to extend any contract that is |
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scheduled to expire before December 1, 2013, under which a medical |
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transportation service provider is obligated to provide |
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transportation services using a transportation service delivery |
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model listed in Subsection (b) to enable the proper evaluation of |
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all models. |
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(j) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |