BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 105

By: Ortega

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Public health leaders have emphasized the important role of community health workers as a resource to ensure quality access to health care in Medicaid managed care organizations. These health workers are key to achieving healthy outcomes for many Texans, especially those relating to maternal health care. Health plans that participate in the Medicaid managed care program have indicated the increasing need for community health workers, but additional funding and program flexibility are required. Currently, costs associated with these workers are considered an administrative expense, which is capped at a certain amount. H.B. 105 seeks to address a funding barrier to hiring additional community health workers by requiring managed care organizations that are contracted to provide services through the STAR Medicaid managed care program to categorize services provided by a promotora or community health worker as a quality improvement.

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

H.B. 105 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to allow each Medicaid managed care organization providing health care services under the STAR Medicaid managed care program to categorize services provided by a promotora or community health worker as a quality improvement cost, as authorized by federal law, instead of as an administrative expense.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.