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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to imposing a moratorium on the awarding of certain |
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contracts by the Health and Human Services Commission under |
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Medicaid and the child health plan program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the |
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Health and Human Services Commission. |
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SECTION 2. MORATORIUM ON NEW CONTRACTS UNDER CERTAIN |
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MANAGED CARE PROGRAMS. (a) This section applies only to the award |
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of a contract by the commission to a managed care organization to |
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provide health care services to enrollees under the child health |
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plan program or Medicaid recipients under the STAR Medicaid managed |
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care program, including an award that, on the effective date of this |
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Act: |
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(1) has not progressed beyond issuance of an intent to |
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award a contract under the procurement process; or |
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(2) is subject to pending litigation. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission may |
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not procure or award a contract to which this section applies for |
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the period: |
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(1) beginning on the effective date of this Act; and |
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(2) ending on the date the commission is next subject |
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to review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), in |
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accordance with Section 523.0003, Government Code. |
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(c) As appropriate, the commission shall seek to renew each |
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existing contract with a managed care organization to provide |
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health care services to enrollees under the child health plan |
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program or Medicaid recipients under the STAR Medicaid managed care |
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program. If a managed care organization elects not to renew an |
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existing contract or enter into a new contract with the commission |
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to continue providing health care services in a service region, the |
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commission may procure and award a new contract with a managed care |
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organization for that region in accordance with applicable |
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procurement law. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires on the day |
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immediately after the date described by Section 2(b)(2) of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION. If before implementing |
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any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or |
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authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation |
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of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall |
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request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that |
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provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |