HBA-CBW S.B. 1041 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1041
By: Ellis, Rodney
Public Health
5/14/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Some seriously ill and disabled children must travel to receive the
necessary expert medical care and consultation.  Such travel is a burden to
many parents and it may also take a health toll on the children. Senate
Bill 1041 provides for the reimbursement of telemedicine services provided
to such children through Medicaid, CHIP, and the services program for
children with special health care needs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Health in
SECTION 1 (Section 35.0041, Health and Safety Code) and the Health and
Human Services Commission in SECTION 3 (Section 531.02161, Government
Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1041 amends the Health and Safety Code to provide that a state
child health plan (CHIP) provider, in providing covered benefits to a child
with special health care needs,  must permit benefits to be provided
through telemedicine in accordance with policies developed by the Health
and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and sets forth the services for which
the policies must provide reimbursement.    

The bill requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) by rule to develop
and implement policies permitting reimbursement of a provider for services
under the services program for children with special health care needs
performed using telemedicine.  The bill sets forth the services for which
the policies must provide reimbursement.   

In developing and implementing the policies, as appropriate, the bill
requires TDH and HHSC to consult with each other and with: 

 _The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;

 _Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

 _providers of telemedicine hub sites in this state;

 _providers of services to children with special health care needs; and

 _representatives of consumer or disability groups affected by changes to
services for children with special health care needs. 


S.B. 1041 amends the Government Code to require HHSC to by rule establish
policies that permit reimbursement under the state Medicaid program for
services provided through telemedicine to children with special health care
needs.  The bill sets forth what the policies must be designed to do and
the services for which the policies must provide reimbursement.   
 
The bill requires HHSC and TDH to develop and implement policies not later
than December 31, 2001. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.