Honorable Four Price, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3541 by Price (Relating to requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations that provide behavioral health services through a third party or subsidiary.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would apply to Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) that provide behavioral health services through a third party or a subsidiary of the MCO. The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to do the following with regard to these MCOs: (1) require sharing and integration of certain data between the MCO and the third party or subsidiary; (2) encourage the colocation of physical health and behavioral health care coordination staff; (3) require warm call transfers between physical health and behavioral health care coordination staff; (4) require the implementation of joint rounds for physical health and behavioral health services providers or some other means for sharing clinical information; and (5) ensure the availability of a seamless provider portal for both physical health and behavioral health services providers, to the extent allowed by federal law.
According to HHSC, the provisions of the bill could be implemented within existing resources. However, HHSC has the authority to set rates, including establishing MCO premiums, and if they were to adjust premiums as a result of the provisions of the bill there could be a cost to the state.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.