BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3922

By: Oliverson

Insurance

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that while insulin prices are unaffordable for the uninsured, some manufacturers offer assistance programs that can help the uninsured population to afford their medications. However, these programs are not well-publicized, which prevents more people from benefiting from these programs. There have been calls to increase the visibility and knowledge of patient assistance programs for insulin. C.S.H.B. 3922 seeks to remedy this situation by directing health care providers that frequently interact with the uninsured, or those that accept certain payments, to inform insulin-dependent patients of these programs.

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 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3922 amends the Government Code to require an applicable health care provider or hospital to provide to patients who have diabetes and require insulin information regarding the availability of pharmaceutical manufacturer patient assistance programs, including copay cards, that may reduce the cost of insulin to the patients. The bill applies to health care providers and hospitals that receive uncompensated care pool payments from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), including federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, as defined under federal law, and physician group practices. The bill requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules to implement the insulin information requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3922 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.