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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to a county jail prisoner's health benefits |
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coverage information for mental health service providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 511.0098 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.0098. PRISONER HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE |
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INFORMATION; PAYMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) The |
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commission shall adopt procedures by which a local mental health |
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authority or other mental health services provider providing |
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services to a prisoner in a county jail under a contract with the |
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county may collect the following from a prisoner who receives those |
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services and is covered by health insurance or other health |
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benefits coverage: |
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(1) the name of the policyholder or group contract |
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holder; |
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(2) the number of the policy or evidence of coverage; |
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(3) a copy of the health coverage membership card, if |
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available; and |
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(4) any other information necessary for the prisoner |
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to obtain benefits under the coverage. |
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(b) A local mental health authority or other mental health |
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services provider who provides mental health services to a prisoner |
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under a contract with a county may arrange for the issuer of the |
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health insurance policy or other health benefits coverage to pay |
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for those services. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |