HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Statewide Health Care Costs, Select 

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Thursday, August 13, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Greg Bonnen 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in scheduling public hearings at this time, the Select House Committee on State Health Care Costs is conducting necessary oversight functions through an information gathering process under Section 301.014, Government Code.

This is notice that the committee is seeking information and input from the public. Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to members of the committee and posted on the House website at https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C460.

Submission Guidelines

· Submissions must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

· Please submit a separate document for each topic to which you are responding.

· Submissions must be submitted via e-mail to Clerks Samantha Durand and Brigitt Hartin at Samantha.Durand_HC@house.texas.gov and Brigitt.Hartin_HC@house.texas.gov and are requested to include “RFI” in the first part of the Subject for quick identification.

· Please include the following information in the submission email: submitter name, organization or entity (if applicable and an authorized representative), mailing address, email, and telephone number.

· The deadline for all submissions is October 01, 2020.

· Comments received in response to this Request for Information will be publicly posted on TLO, TLIS, and the House website. When submitting comments, please remove any personal identifying information, such as your personal phone number, residence address, or e-mail address.

TOPICS:

INTERIM CHARGE 1: Examine the primary drivers of increased health care costs in Texas. This examination should include a review of: 

· Current health care financing strategies; 

· fragmentation of the care delivery administrative burden; 

· population, health, and social factors that contribute to rising     rates of chronic disease and poor health; 

· insurance coverage and benefit design; 

· lack of transparency in the cost of health care services; 

· regional variations in the cost of care; 

· consolidation and lack of competition in the provider and insurance markets; 

· health care workforce capacity distribution; and  

· fraud, abuse, and wasteful spending; 

INTERIM CHARGE 2: Study the opportunities to better coordinate how public dollars are spent on health care  

INTERIM CHARGE 3: Identify emerging and proven delivery system improvements and sustainable financing models that could reduce the cost of health care. 

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In the event it becomes feasible to safely conduct a public meeting, the Committee reserves the right to hold an in-person hearing on these charges.