BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1494

By: Zaffirini

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the commissioner of workers' compensation should have more flexibility in determining whether work-hardening or work-conditioning services provided by a health care facility should be subject to a requirement for preauthorization and concurrent review by the applicable insurance carrier. S.B. 1494 seeks to provide for such flexibility.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of workers' compensation in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS  

S.B. 1494 amends the Labor Code to remove the specification that the work-hardening or work‑conditioning services for which rules of the commissioner of workers' compensation must provide that preauthorization and concurrent review by the applicable insurance carrier are required at a minimum are such services provided by a health care facility that is not credentialed by an organization recognized by commissioner rules. The bill authorizes the commissioner to exempt by rule from such preauthorization and concurrent review work‑hardening or work-conditioning services provided by a health care facility that is credentialed by an organization designated by commissioner rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.