HBA-MPM H.B. 2236 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2236
By: Gray
Public Health
3/29/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston has for more
than 100 years provided health care for individuals who have no insurance
and cannot pay for their health care.  Last year, UTMB served uninsured
children and adults from 235 Texas counties, at a cost of more than $142
million in charity care.  State and federal changes to Medicaid and
Medicare reimbursement resulted in decreases in reimbursement to UTMB of
more than $28 million, thereby hindering the facility's ability to care for
indigent Texans.   

H.B. 2236 allows UTMB to contract with certain state agencies, including
the Texas Department of Health and the Texas Department of Human Services,
to be one of the HMOs to provide managed care services to certain
populations of Texans. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 533.004(a), Government Code, by specify that in
providing health care services through Medicaid managed care to recipients
in a health care service region, the Health and Human Services Commission
(commission) is required to contract with a managed care organization,
rather than at least one managed care organization in that region, that
meets certain specifications.  Includes among a list of specifications that
a managed care organization holds a certificate of authority under Article
21.52(f) (Right to Select Practitioner Under Health and Accident Policies),
Insurance Code, and that it is certified under Section 5.01(a), Article
4495(b), V.T.C.S. (Medical Practice Act), and that it is created by the
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.  Redesignates existing
Subdivisions (1)-(3) to Paragraphs (A)-(C), and existing Paragraphs (A) and
(B) to Subparagraphs (i) and (ii), respectively. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.