HBA-NRS S.B. 496 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 496
By: Shapleigh
Insurance
4/27/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Resurgent economies in the Western Hemisphere have spurred demand for
American goods and services. Among those goods and services most sought
after by foreign nationals are medicine and medical care. These foreign
nationals include middle class Mexican residents employed along the
Texas-Mexico border. Since Mexican health insurance policies do not
generally cover medicine and medical services rendered in the United
States, Mexican residents represent a significant, untapped market for
services provided by Texas-based health insurers. A study to examine the
legal and practical impediments to providing binational health benefit plan
coverage will allow Texans to determine an appropriate course of action
regarding the issue of binational health benefit plan coverage. Senate Bill
496 authorizes the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department
of Health to study the provision of health benefit plan coverage to
individuals who are not residents of the United States.  

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

Senate Bill 496 amends law to require the Texas Department of Insurance
(TDI) and the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to jointly study the
provision of health benefit plan coverage to individuals who are not
residents of the United  States. The bill provides that the study must
identify legal and practical impediments to providing binational health
benefit plan coverage and include recommendations to facilitate provision
of the coverage. The bill authorizes the commissioner of insurance and the
Texas Board of Health to jointly appoint an advisory committee to assist
TDI and TDH in conducting the study. The bill requires TDH and TDI to
jointly issue and file a report describing the recommendations, including
proposals for legislation, with the governor, lieutenant governor, and the
speaker of the house of representatives no later than November 1, 2002.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.