By: Ortega, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Blanco) H.B. No. 113

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023; April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; May 21, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of community health workers in Medicaid managed care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 533.021 to read as follows:

Sec. 533.021. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. (a) In this section, "community health worker" has the meaning assigned by Section 48.001, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The commission shall allow each Medicaid managed care organization providing health care services under the STAR Medicaid managed care program to categorize services provided by a community health worker as a quality improvement cost, as authorized by federal law, instead of as an administrative expense.

SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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