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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to efficiencies and cost-savings in the health and human |
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services and other related regulatory agencies, including the state |
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medical assistance and child health plan programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, the |
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legislature, in its discretion, may determine the amount of each |
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appropriation of state funds. The amounts required by statute for |
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entities that receive state funds under the General Appropriations |
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Act, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, may be reduced or |
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eliminated in order to achieve a balanced budget. |
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SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission and |
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other agencies responsible for administration of the state medical |
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assistance and child health plan programs shall identify |
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efficiencies and reduce expenditures in these programs by: |
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(1) Leveraging all options for program flexibility and |
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funding, including working with other states and the federal |
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Department of Health and Human Services, to increase program |
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efficiency, accountability, and sustainability; |
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(2) Implementing payment reform and quality based |
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payments in fee for service and managed care; |
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(3) Increasing neonatal intensive care management; |
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(4) Aligning hospital rates in managed care closer to |
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fee for service rates; |
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(5) Renegotiating more efficient contracts; |
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(6) Developing more appropriate emergency department |
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hospital rates for nonemergency related visits; |
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(7) Maximizing client cost-sharing, including |
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co-payments; |
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(8) Maximizing federal matching funds through a |
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statewide transportation broker or a federal waiver; |
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(9) Pursuing a federal waiver that would allow the |
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state to share in savings realized to the Medicare program that |
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result from state improvements in quality and efficiency for |
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clients enrolled in both the state medical assistance program and |
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Medicare; |
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(10) Reducing costs for durable medical equipment and |
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laboratory services through rate reductions, utilization |
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management, and consolidation; |
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(11) Optimizing federal matching funds for all state |
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and local funding streams, including Trauma Funds; |
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(12) Increasing utilization management and review; |
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(13) Evaluating the consolidation of existing state |
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health plans for children's health; |
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(14) Reviewing the implications of continuing or |
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eliminating certain optional services; |
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(15) Modifying inpatient and outpatient hospital |
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reimbursements; |
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(16) Promoting and expanding the use of telemedicine, |
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telemonitoring, and other technologies; |
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(17) Increasing client access to preventive primary |
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care; |
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(18) Implementing an objective client assessment |
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process; |
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(19) Maximizing efficiencies and cost-savings through |
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the managed care model; |
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(20) Ensuring that clients are being served in the |
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most cost-effective Section 1915(c) waiver program appropriate for |
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their needs; |
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(21) Streamlining the administration and delivery of |
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services through Section 1915(c) waiver programs; |
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(22) Requiring clients of Section 1915(c) waiver |
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programs to access attendant services through community based |
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entitlement programs as appropriate; |
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(23) Requesting any waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency determined to be necessary for implementation of any |
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initiative aimed at improving efficiency and reducing |
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expenditures; and |
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(24) Implementing additional initiatives identified |
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by the Health and Human Services Commission and other agencies |
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responsible for administration of the state medical assistance and |
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child health plan programs. |
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SECTION 3. Section 533.0025(e), Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |