Texas Health
Insurance
Options
The
House Committee on Insurance heard testimony
Monday on several bills including:
BAD BILLS
HB 368 by
Rep. David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls) relates to
health coverage for certain mental disorders in
children. Witnesses representing the Texas
Association of Business and the Texas Association
of Health Plans expressed concerns with the bill,
suggesting that the definition for mental illness
was overly broad and that such mandates further
escalate health insurance premiums. HB 368 was
left pending.
HB 542 by Rep.
Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) relates to
reimbursement under certain health plans for
services provided by licensed podiatrists. Two
podiatrists testified before the committee in
favor of the bill, arguing that podiatrists should
be reimbursed at the same rate as physicians.
Those in opposition noted that the legislation as
written undermines the network concept and can
adversely affect cost-containment efforts. HB 542
was left pending.
HB 712 by Rep.
Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) relates to coverage
for certain mental disorders in children under the
TRS health plan. HB 712 was left pending.
HB 765
by Rep. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) relates to
the required minimum annual policy limits for
certain group accident and health insurance
policies. A substitute was proposed and adopted by
the committee members. The Texas Association of
Health Plans and others were opposed to the
substitute for HB 765, but indicated to committee
members they are willing to work with Rep.
Menendez on the issue. The bill was left pending.
HEALTH ISSUES (POTENTIALLY GOOD)
Based on
legislative concern over managed care, the Health
and Human Services Commission has put a temporary
hold on the award of a managed care contract, in
order to provide extra time to explain the program
to lawmakers and obtain their advice. Many medical
community trade associations have expressed
opposition to Medicaid managed care. The STAR-Plus
contracts remain pending before the Health and
Human Services Commission. Some of the leadership,
however, sees some managed care as a necessity to
prevent health-care cost increases from busting
the state budget. Health and Human Services
Commissioner Albert Hawkins and his team continue
to wrestle to find a solution that will please all
sides.
GOOD BILL
Rep. Scott
Hochberg (D-Houston) filed HB 713, and Sen. Rodney
Ellis (D-Houston) filed its companion SB 518,
which would establish a program that allows the
Texas Department of Pharmacy to license Canadian
pharmacies to sell and ship prescription drugs
directly to Texans. Participating Canadian
pharmacies would be required to meet the same
safety standard as any other pharmacy operating in
Texas. This will impact insurance costs
positively. The bill specifies:
* Canadian
pharmacies must be licensed by the Texas
Department of Pharmacy;
* Medications
must be prescribed for long-term use;
* Medications
must be approved by Health Canada for sale in
Canada;
* Medications
must be manufactured in the United States or have
an equivalent approved for sale in the United
States by the FDA;
* Medications
must require no special handling such as
refrigeration; and
*Texans cannot
purchase more than a three-month supply of any one
drug at one time.
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