By: Nelson S.B. No. 2128
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Health and Human Services Commission's procurement
  and oversight of managed care organization contracts serving
  individuals in Texas Medicaid with serious mental illness.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 533.0071, Texas Government Code, is
  amended by adding new subsection "(6)" to read as follows:
         " (6) To achieve greater administrative efficiency and the
  greatest value for the state, the Health and Human Services
  Commission shall evaluate and strengthen its current procurement
  process for managed care. This may include simultaneously procuring
  multiple managed care products. 
         The agency shall develop metrics to better hold managed care
  companies accountable for care of enrollees with serious mental
  illness, which may include development and procurement of a
  separate managed care program in at least one service area of the
  state aimed at serving individuals with serious mental illness, as
  defined by Section 1355.001, Texas Insurance Code. 
         The Health and Human Services Commission shall measure
  performance of all managed care programs per Government Code,
  536.003 and by using other measures that support a continuous
  quality improvement process and establish accountability at the
  managed care organization and provider level for performance
  improvement and cost control. Measures should include national
  industry standard performance measures for integrated care, jail
  and emergency department diversion, post-release linkage to care,
  homelessness reduction, supportive housing, and medication
  adherence. Metrics also must demonstrate improved outcomes and
  integration of care and enhanced cost control against an
  established baseline measurement for the target population of
  individuals with serious mental illness. 
         If necessary, the Health and Human Services Commission may
  extend existing managed care contracts to establish a uniform
  expiration date, provided it does so in a manner consistent with
  Texas Government Code section 2155.144(c)."
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.