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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 2935

By: Sheffield

Pensions

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that many of the measurement systems for quality and efficiency of musculoskeletal care used by government and commercial entities are incomplete and therefore do not further understanding of the most effective treatments. These parties further assert that the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and Employees Retirement System of Texas would benefit significantly from data on the most effective musculoskeletal treatments. H.B. 2935 seeks to foster a better understanding of musculoskeletal care.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 2935 requires the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) to jointly conduct a study of the benefits and disadvantages of establishing a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care provided under the plans of group coverage administered by the systems under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Act, the Texas Public School Retired Employees Group Benefits Act, and the Texas School Employees Uniform Group Health Coverage Act. 

 

H.B. 2935 requires the study to identify the musculoskeletal conditions and injuries that result in the highest cost for health care in the plans of group coverage; to identify the percentage of the total cost for health care under the plans of group coverage that is spent for such conditions and injuries; to estimate the cost for the systems, or for the entities administering the plans of group coverage on the systems' behalf, to establish and administer a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care; to evaluate the potential benefits of a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care for the populations served by the plans of group coverage; and to identify potential partners, such as medical schools located in Texas, that could assist the systems in establishing and administering a patient-reported outcomes registry for musculoskeletal care.

 

H.B. 2935 requires TRS and ERS to report the results of the study to the speaker of the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the standing committees of the house and the senate with jurisdiction over the retirement systems and insurance not later than December 1, 2016. The bill requires the report to specify whether establishing one or more patient-reported outcomes registries for musculoskeletal care would be beneficial and effective and to be accompanied by recommendations for legislation, if appropriate.  The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2017.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.