AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties note that in the United States, there are over two million veterans who served in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Relevant data shows that approximately 300,000 of those veterans currently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other co-occurring disorders. The cost of care for these veterans over two years is estimated to be between $4 billion and $6.2 billion. Interested parties note that Houston and the surrounding area is home to approximately 370,000 veterans, of whom approximately 22,000 were deployed in the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, Texas is home to approximately 25 percent of all veterans nationwide. H.B. 3404 seeks to provide a study regarding effective and efficient treatment of Texas veterans.
H.B. 3404 amends current law relating to a study on providing care to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to conduct a study on the benefits of providing integrated care to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Authorizes HHSC, to conduct the study, to coordinate with a university and medical school with expertise in behavioral health or post-traumatic stress disorder. Requires that the study evaluate the benefits of:
(1) using a standardized comprehensive trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder assessment to identify and target evidence-based treatment services to provide integrated care for veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; and
(2) involving family members in the treatment of a veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
(b) Requires HHSC, not later than December 1, 2016, to submit a report containing the results of the study conducted under Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. Requires that the report include the number of people served and the type of integrated care provided through the study.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act expires September 1, 2017.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.