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Amend HB 3702 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____.  Subchapter B, Chapter 412, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 412.0129 to read as follows:
Sec. 412.0129.  AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL SERVICES AND MEDICAL BILLING REAL-TIME PROCESSING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. (a) The office may develop and implement a demonstration program for processing workers' compensation authorizations of payment for medical services and medical bills in real time if the office determines that the program would be cost-effective.
(b)  The demonstration program described by Subsection (a) must include:
(1)  a secure single platform, Internet-based portal for use by the office, state agencies, injured employees, and health care providers;
(2)  the ability to collect, input, and transmit administrative and clinical data, including:
(A)  patient information;
(B)  provider contracts;
(C)  treatment guidelines; and
(D)  other information the office considers necessary for processing authorizations and medical bills;
(3)  an automated process to streamline requests for authorizations of payment for medical services and peer reviews at the point of care; and
(4)  return-to-work best practices for workers' compensation claims, including complex case management.
(c)  The workers' compensation research and evaluation group shall assist the office in identifying and adopting measures for evaluating the demonstration program.
(d)  The evaluation period for the demonstration program shall end on June 30, 2020.
(e)  If the office implements a demonstration program under this section, not later than December 31, 2020, the office shall provide to the board a report that:
(1)  evaluates the program, including any effects of the program on administrative cost savings; and
(2)  recommends whether to use the process implemented under the program on a permanent basis.
(f)  If the report of the demonstration program under Subsection (e) indicates that administrative cost savings are achieved by the process implemented under the program, the board may adopt and use the process on a permanent basis.
(g)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION ____.  Not later than January 1, 2018, the State Office of Risk Management shall make a determination as to whether the demonstration program described by Section 412.0129, Labor Code, as added by this Act, would be cost-effective. If the office determines the program would be cost-effective and decides to implement the program, the office shall fully implement the program not later than January 1, 2019.