HBA-MPM H.B. 795 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 795
By: Najera
Public Health
3/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is a disparity in prescription drug benefits for Medicaid
recipients.  The Medicaid Vendor Program restricts adults eligible for
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and aged, blind, or disabled adults
living in the community to three prescription medications per month.
However, children under age 21, nursing facility residents, and recipients
enrolled in managed care plans receive unlimited prescription benefits.
House Bill 795 prohibits the Health and Human Services Commission from
limiting the number of prescription medications a Medicaid recipient may
receive to less than six per month. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 795 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC), in its rules and standards, from limiting
to less than six the number of medications prescribed each month to a
Medicaid recipient.  The bill also amends the Government Code to require
HHSC to include information in its database relating to: 

_Medicaid recipients for whom more than six medications, rather than three
medications, have been prescribed; and 
_the medical effect of the denial of Medicaid coverage for more than six
medications.  


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.