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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to allowing certain providers of eye health care services |
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to enroll as Medicaid providers. |
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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 531.02119 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02119. MEDICAID ENROLLMENT AND CREDENTIALING OF |
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CERTAIN EYE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. (a) This section applies to: |
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(1) an optometrist who is licensed by the Texas |
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Optometry Board; |
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(2) a therapeutic optometrist who is licensed by the |
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Texas Optometry Board; and |
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(3) an ophthalmologist who is licensed by the Texas |
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Medical Board. |
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(b) The commission may not prevent a provider to whom this |
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section applies from enrolling as a Medicaid provider if the |
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provider: |
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(1) joins an established practice of a health care |
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provider or provider group that: |
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(A) has a contract with a managed care |
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organization to provide health care services to recipients under |
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Chapter 533; or |
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(B) provides health care services under the |
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Medicaid program under a fee-for-service arrangement; |
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(2) applies to be an enrolled provider under the |
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Medicaid program; |
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(3) if applicable: |
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(A) applies for credentialing with the |
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appropriate managed care organization; and |
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(B) complies with the requirements of the |
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contract between the provider or the provider's group and the |
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applicable managed care organization; and |
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(4) complies with all other applicable requirements |
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related to being a Medicaid provider. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2015. |