86R1880 KFF-D
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 1470
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to allowing the parents or guardians of certain medically
  dependent children to opt out of the STAR Kids managed care program
  under Medicaid.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 533.0025(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section and Section
  533.002531 and notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall
  provide Medicaid acute care services through the most
  cost-effective model of Medicaid capitated managed care as
  determined by the commission.  The commission shall require
  mandatory participation in a Medicaid capitated managed care
  program for all persons eligible for Medicaid acute care benefits,
  but may implement alternative models or arrangements, including a
  traditional fee-for-service arrangement, if the commission
  determines the alternative would be more cost-effective or
  efficient.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 533.00253(b) and (d), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 533.002531 and subject 
  [Subject] to Section 533.0025, the commission shall operate[, in
  consultation with the Children's Policy Council established under
  Section 22.035, Human Resources Code, establish] a mandatory STAR
  Kids capitated managed care program tailored to provide Medicaid
  benefits to children with disabilities.  The managed care program
  [developed] under this section must:
               (1)  provide Medicaid benefits that are customized to
  meet the health care needs of recipients under the program through a
  defined system of care;
               (2)  better coordinate care of recipients under the
  program;
               (3)  improve the health outcomes of recipients;
               (4)  improve recipients' access to health care
  services;
               (5)  achieve cost containment and cost efficiency;
               (6)  reduce the administrative complexity of
  delivering Medicaid benefits;
               (7)  reduce the incidence of unnecessary
  institutionalizations and potentially preventable events by
  ensuring the availability of appropriate services and care
  management;
               (8)  require a health home; and
               (9)  coordinate and collaborate with long-term care
  service providers and long-term care management providers, if
  recipients are receiving long-term services and supports outside of
  the managed care organization.
         (d)  The commission shall provide Medicaid benefits through
  the STAR Kids managed care program operated [established] under
  this section to children who are receiving benefits under the
  medically dependent children (MDCP) waiver program, except that the
  parent or guardian of a medically dependent child may opt the child
  out of receiving benefits through the STAR Kids managed care
  program in accordance with Section 533.002531.  The commission
  shall ensure that the STAR Kids managed care program provides all of
  the benefits provided under the medically dependent children (MDCP)
  waiver program to the extent necessary to implement this
  subsection.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 533.002531 to read as follows:
         Sec. 533.002531.  STAR KIDS MANAGED CARE PROGRAM: OPT-OUT
  ALTERNATIVE. (a)  The commission shall provide a process by which
  the parent or guardian of a child receiving benefits under the
  medically dependent children (MDCP) waiver program may opt the
  medically dependent child out of receiving benefits through the
  STAR Kids managed care program operated under Section 533.00253 and
  elect instead to have the child receive benefits through a
  traditional fee-for-service arrangement. The commission shall
  ensure that any transition in the delivery of benefits to a child
  under this section is completed in a manner that protects
  continuity of care.
         (b)  The parent or guardian of a medically dependent child
  who opts the child out of receiving benefits through the STAR Kids
  managed care program may not opt to return the child to receiving
  benefits through the STAR Kids managed care program or any other
  capitated managed care model for a period of at least two years.
         (c)  If a parent or guardian of a medically dependent child
  opts the child out of receiving benefits through the STAR Kids
  managed care program, the commission shall monitor:
               (1)  whether, after the child transitioned to the
  traditional fee-for-service arrangement, the child's:
                     (A)  utilization of benefits increased; and
                     (B)  wellness improved; and
               (2)  the satisfaction of the child's parent or guardian
  with the provision of benefits under the fee-for-service
  arrangement.
         (d)  To the same extent required under Section 533.00253(e),
  the commission shall ensure that there is a plan for transitioning
  the provision of Medicaid benefits to recipients 21 years of age or
  older from the fee-for-service arrangement provided under this
  section to the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program that
  protects continuity of care. The plan must ensure that the
  coordination begins when the recipient reaches 18 years of age.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.