BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 747

By: Kolkhorst

Insurance

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the funding for the diagnostic testing of infants for numerous disorders and medical conditions. It has been suggested that the cost for these screenings is not routinely published or updated, leaving some providers facing uncertainty over cost reimbursements for state-required testing. C.S.S.B. 747 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Department of State Health Services to provide for more price stability and make cost information more available.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 4 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 747 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to publish on its website the cost of and instructions on the full claim and reimbursement process for a newborn screening test kit to be used to screen for certain diseases and disorders for which DSHS requires screening. The bill authorizes DSHS to change the cost not later than the 90th day before the date DSHS publishes notice of the change on its website and requires DSHS, if it changes the cost, to retain a record of the previous cost until the first anniversary of the date of the change.

C.S.S.B. 747 amends the Insurance Code to include the cost of a newborn screening test kit among the benefits covered as part of well-child care from birth under a health care plan provided by a health maintenance organization (HMO). The bill requires an HMO to ensure that such care complies with rules on the cost of a newborn screening test kit adopted by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The bill prohibits a health benefit plan that provides maternity benefits or accident and health coverage for additional newborn children from excluding or limiting coverage for administration of the newborn screening tests, including for the cost of a newborn screening test kit in the amount provided by DSHS on its website on the date the test was administered.

C.S.S.B. 747 requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions. The bill's provisions apply only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2020. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 747 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a requirement that DSHS publish on its website instructions on the full claim and reimbursement process for a newborn screening test kit.