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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a joint interim study regarding health benefit coverage |
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for obesity under certain health benefit plans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE. (a) A joint interim |
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committee is created to study health benefit coverage for the |
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diagnosis and treatment of obesity provided by: |
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(1) group health benefit plans in the private market; |
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and |
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(2) plans and programs provided through government |
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entities. |
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(b) The committee shall be composed of: |
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(1) two senators appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(2) two representatives appointed by the speaker of |
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the house of representatives; and |
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(3) one member appointed by the governor, who shall |
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serve as the committee's presiding officer. |
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(c) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(d) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and |
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house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government |
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Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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(e) From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the |
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contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally, |
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the members of the committee are entitled to reimbursement for |
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expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section in |
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accordance with the rules of the senate and house of |
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representatives and the policies of the senate and house committees |
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on administration. |
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(f) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of |
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this Act, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the governor shall appoint the members of the |
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interim committee created under this section. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. The committee created under Section 1 of |
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this Act shall, with respect to coverage for the diagnosis and |
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treatment of obesity provided by the plans and programs described |
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by Section 1(a) of this Act: |
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(1) study: |
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(A) health benefits that are currently provided |
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by those plans and programs; and |
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(B) exclusions from coverage under those plans |
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and programs; |
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(2) identify the extent to which health benefit |
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coverage provided is mandated or discretionary; |
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(3) identify diagnostic services and treatments for |
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which coverage is not offered by those plans and programs; |
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(4) determine the justifications for offering, |
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limiting, or excluding coverage and how decisions to offer, limit, |
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or exclude coverage are made; |
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(5) calculate and compare the direct and indirect |
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costs to an individual, the state, and the state economy associated |
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with: |
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(A) the provision of mandated coverage; |
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(B) the provision of other various levels of |
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coverage; and |
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(C) the exclusion of coverage; and |
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(6) identify the barriers that limit new or additional |
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coverage. |
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SECTION 3. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Not later than |
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January 15, 2019, the committee created under Section 1 of this Act |
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shall report the committee's findings and recommendations to the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the governor. The committee shall include in its |
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recommendations specific statutory changes, including changes to |
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Subtitle E, Title 8, Insurance Code, that may appear necessary or |
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advisable from the committee's study under Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2017. |