BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3036

By: Martinez, "Mando"

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns regarding the recent expansion of managed care in certain South Texas counties. Interested parties contend that although such changes were made with the goal of reducing costs, implications of the expansion in certain areas of the state are troubling. The parties assert that shortly after the managed care rollout, certain managed care organizations reduced reimbursement rates to providers and services to enrollees, which effectively resulted in many Medicaid participants being denied necessary medical care and negatively impacted health care providers and the state economy. H.B. 3036 seeks to study this issue.

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. 3036 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to conduct a study on the accuracy of the Legislative Budget Board's estimate that the changes in law made by Chapter 7 (S.B. 7), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2011, would produce a savings of $467,628,328 for the state during the 2012–2013 fiscal biennium. The bill requires HHSC, in conducting the study, to focus on the savings achieved by the changes in law relating to the expansion of Medicaid managed care, particularly with regard to the increase in the number of persons served by and the scope of services provided through Medicaid managed care organizations. The bill requires HHSC to submit a report containing the results of the study to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later than December 31, 2016. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2017.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.