TITLE: Relating to the child health plan and medical assistance programs.

SUMMARY: Relating to the child health plan and medical assistance programs.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the child health plan and medical assistance programs. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0313 to read as follows: Sec. 32.0313. DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN PROCEDURES. The department may not reimburse a provider under the medical assistance program for a nonmedically indicated cesarean section or labor induction performed at a hospital on a woman earlier than the 39th week of gestation. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 161.086 to read as follows: Sec. 161.086. ELECTRONIC VISIT VERIFICATION SYSTEM. If it is cost-effective, the department shall implement an Electronic Visit Verification system under appropriate Medicaid programs administered by the department that allows providers to electronically verify and document basic information relating to the delivery of services, including: (1) the provider's name; (2) the recipient's name; (3) the date and time the provider begins and ends the delivery of services; and (4) the location of service delivery. SECTION 3. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall conduct a study to assess whether it would be feasible and cost-effective to implement an asthma self-management training program under which children who have asthma and receive benefits under the child health plan program under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, or the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, may receive home-based asthma education and training from persons qualified to provide the education and training, including respiratory therapists and individuals certified to provide the training by the National Asthma Educator Certification Board. The study must: (1) analyze whether implementing the training program would reduce asthma-related emergency room visits and hospital inpatient stays; (2) explore the possibility of providing: (A) home-based education and training as a benefit under the child health plan and medical assistance programs; and (B) financial incentives through shared savings to providers of home-based education and training; and (3) assess the likelihood that children and their families will use home-based education and training. (b) Not later than December 1, 2012, the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit a written report containing the findings of the study conducted under this section together with the commission's recommendations to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over the child health plan and Medicaid programs. SECTION 4. Section 533.0025(e), Government Code, is repealed. SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.