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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reimbursement of rural hospitals in the Texas |
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Medicaid program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 1, Health and Safety Code, |
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Chapter 533, Section 533.002 is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 533.002. PURPOSE. The commission shall implement the |
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Medicaid managed care program by contracting with managed care |
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organizations in a manner that, to the extent possible: |
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(1) improves the health of Texans by: |
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(A) emphasizing prevention; |
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(B) promoting continuity of care; and |
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(C) providing a medical home for recipients; |
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(2) ensures that each recipient receives high quality, |
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comprehensive health care services in the recipient's local |
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community; |
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(3) encourages the training of and access to primary |
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care physicians and providers; |
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(4) maximizes cooperation with existing public health |
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entities, including local departments of health; |
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(5) provides incentives to managed care organizations |
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to improve the quality of health care services for recipients by |
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providing value-added services; [and] |
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(6) reduces administrative and other nonfinancial |
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barriers for recipients in obtaining health care services; and |
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(7) provides for reimbursement to rural hospitals as |
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defined in the Texas Medicaid program on a per individual hospital |
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cost basis using payment methodology established by the commission |
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that assures rural hospitals recover allowable cost incurred to |
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provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries. The commission may |
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directly reimburse rural hospitals or contract with managed care |
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organizations to process reimbursement payments however contracts |
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associated with managed care organizations must allow for full pass |
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through of allowable cost reimbursement to rural hospitals. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |