BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2742

By: Neave

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of information available regarding providers participating in the Healthy Texas Women program. C.S.H.B. 2742 seeks to address these concerns by requiring the program provider list to be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at least once every six months.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2742 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to do the following at least once every six months with respect to the Healthy Texas Women program:

· review and, if necessary, update the provider list to ensure that each provider included on the list is participating in the program and that the list contains accurate contact information for each provider; and

· make any necessary updates to the list to facilitate women's access to the program's health care services.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2742 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not include provisions requiring HHSC to conduct an audit of providers under the program every six months relating to provider specialization and the services provided. The substitute requires HHSC instead to review and update the program provider list at least once every six months.