Healthcare Access
Healthcare Access Related Bills that are relevant to Center research foci and of interest to the TX RPC Project can be viewed here. This tracker does not encompass all healthcare access related bills. To see additional bills, please visit the Texas Legislature Online website.
Medicaid/Medicare Related Bills |
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| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2019) |
| HB 4 | State Rep. Four Price |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/15/21, Effective immediately |
The executive commissioner by rule shall ensure that a federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic may be reimbursed for the originating site facility fee or the distant site practitioner fee or both, as appropriate, for a covered telemedicine medical service or tele-health service delivered by a health care provider to a medicaid. Companion Bill: SB 412, HB 974 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1164 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/15/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
The department shall designate as centers of excellence for the management and treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorder one or more health care entities or programs in this state, including any institution or community hospital with the appropriate resources and personnel, as determined by the department and the review committee. Companion Bill: SB 2009 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2056 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/16/21, effective 9/1/21 with some exceptions |
A dentist who delegates a tele-dentistry dental service shall ensure that the informed consent of the patient includes disclosure to the patient that the dentist has delegated the service. Companion Bill: SB 488 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2365 | State Rep. Ray Lopez |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/15/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
A military medical treatment facility or a health care provider providing services at a military medical treatment facility is considered a provider under medicaid for purposes of providing and receiving reimbursement for: (1) inpatient emergency services; and (2) related outpatient services to the extent those services are not available from an enrolled medicaid provider at the time the services are needed. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2706 | State Rep. Donna Howard |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/16/21, effective 9/1/21 |
There are certain services that are provided for victims. Companion Bill: SB 1299 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2822 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/7/21, effective 9/1/21 |
The executive commissioner, in the rules and standards governing the vendor drug program, may not require clinical, non-preferred, or other prior authorization for an antipsychotic drug prescribed to an adult patient in certain instances. Companion Bill: SB 674 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3720 | State Rep. James Frank |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/16/21, effective 9/1/21 |
Relating to interest lists and eligibility criteria for certain Medicaid waiver programs. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 40 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/3/21, effective immediately |
A health professional may provide tele-health services in accordance with Chapter 111, Occupations Code, and any requirements imposed by the laws and rules governing the applicable health professional program administered by the department. Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to a health professional performing "direct" observation of a patient, or providing "direct" care or services to a patient, shall include the provision of tele-health services. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 50 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/16/21, effective 9/1/21 |
The executive commissioner by rule shall develop a uniform process that complies with the policy adopted under Section 531.02447 to assess the goals of and competitive and integrated employment opportunities and related employment services available to an individual to whom this section applies and use the identified goals and available opportunities and services to direct the individual's plan of care at the time the plan is developed or renewed. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 73 | State Sen. Borris L. Miles |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
The executive commissioner shall establish a separate provider type for local health departments, including health service regional offices acting in the capacity of local health departments, for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and reimbursement under the medical assistance program. Companion Bill: HB 1666, HB 3834 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 640 | State Sen. Jose Menendez |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
The commission and the advisory committee jointly shall conduct a study to assess the interoperability needs and technology readiness of behavioral health service providers in this state. Companion Bill: HB 1859 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 672 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/7/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
The commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement to a treating health care provider who participates in medicaid for the provision to a child or adult medical assistance recipient of behavioral health services that are classified by a Current Procedural Terminology code as collaborative care management services. Companion Bill HB 2834 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1059 | State Sen. Angela Paxton |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/8/21, effective 9/1/21 |
The Department of Family and Protective Services shall certify the income, assets, or resources of each individual on the date the individual exits substitute care. An individual qualifying for medical assistance as established by this section shall remain eligible for the maximum period permitted under federal law before any recertification is required. Companion Bill: HB 2963 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1137 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/18/21, effective 9/1/21 |
A hospital shall: (1) maintain a list of all standard charges for all hospital items or services in accordance with this section; and (2) ensure the list required under Subdivision (1) is available at all times to the public, including by posting the list electronically in the manner provided by this section. Companion Bills: SB 914, HB 2487 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1216 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini |
PASSED - Filed without the Governor’s signature on 5/24/21, effective 9/1/21 |
At least monthly, a medicaid managed care organization shall send an electronic copy of the recipient directory described by this section to the commission. Companion Bill: HB 3228 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1244 | State Sen. Charles Perry |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective 9/1/21 |
Before the commission may award a contract under this chapter to a managed care organization, the commission shall evaluate and certify that the organization is reasonably able to fulfill the terms of the contract, including all requirements of applicable federal and state law. Companion Bill: HB 4252 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1911 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco |
PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective immediately |
If your preferred method of contact about health care matters is by electronic communication, including text message or e-mail, please be advised that while your managed care organization or health plan provider is required to protect the security of that communication, because electronic communication may not be encrypted there is still a risk of a security breach, including the risk of confidential or private information being intercepted by an unauthorized third party. By completing the form below, you acknowledge that you understand the risks associated with and consent to the use of electronic communication. Companion Bill: HB 4343 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| Bills Below Failed to Make it through Legislative Process |
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| HB 105 | State Rep. Evelina Ortega |
Bill passed the House - 5/16/21 Bill referred to Senate Health and Human Services committee – 5/17/21 |
The commission will allow each medicaid managed care organization providing health care services under the STAR medicaid managed care program to categorize services provided by a promotora or community health worker as a quality improvement cost, as authorized by federal law, instead of as an administrative expense. Companion Bill: SB 136 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 122 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Ways & Means - 2/25/21 | A qualifying caregiver is entitled to an exemption from taxation of the total appraised value of the qualifying caregiver's residence homestead. A qualifying caregiver is eligible to receive an exemption under this section only for the period during which the qualifying individual for whom the qualifying caregiver provides care is on an interest list for long-term services and supports under the Medicaid program, including services and supports provided under a Section 1915(c) waiver program, the STAR Kids Managed care program, or the STAR+PLUS home and community-based services and supports program. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 131 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Appropriations - 2/25/21 |
The commission will provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152), to provide that assistance. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 143 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Human Services - 2/25/21 | On the request of a county and notwithstanding any other law, the executive commissioner will, on behalf of the county, seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1315) to the state medicaid plan to expand the categories of persons eligible for Medicaid benefits by allowing the county to provide medicaid benefits to any resident of the county. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 158 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry |
Bill passed the House - 5/4/21 Bill referred to Senate Health and Human Services committee – 5/13/21 |
The commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement for services provided by a doula, including childbirth education and emotional and physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. The executive commissioner by rule shall determine the qualifications necessary for an individual to be considered a doula and the doula services to be covered under the medical assistance program. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 165 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Human Services - 2/25/21 | The commission will develop and implement a program to provide financial assistance to eligible Medicaid recipients who are in need of the assistance for purposes of receiving or continuing necessary health care services that have been delayed or denied under Medicaid, including care that has been denied pending appeal. Financial assistance under the program must be provided in the form of direct reimbursements to health care providers. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 171 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Appropriations - 2/25/21 |
The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Companion Bills: SB 38, SB 118, SB 119 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 270 | State Rep. Senfronia Thompson |
Bill passed the House - 4/21/21 Bill referred to Senate Health and Human Services committee – 5/14/21 |
The executive commissioner shall set a personal needs allowance of not less than $75 a month for a resident of a convalescent or nursing facility or related institution who receives medical assistance. The commission may send the personal needs allowance directly to a resident who receives Supplemental Security Income. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 389 | State Rep. Celia Israel | Referred to Appropriations - 2/25/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Companion Bill: SB 38, SB 118, SB 119, HB 398 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 398 | State Rep. John H. Bucy, III | Referred to Appropriations - 2/25/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Companion Bill: SB 38, SB 119, HB 389 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 415 | State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle | Referred to Public Health - 2/25/21 | The department and other relevant entities, will study methods for using doula services to improve birth outcomes of women who face a disproportionately greater risk of poor birth outcomes, including the feasibility of providing Medicaid coverage for doula services. The department and the commission will post on their websites informational resources regarding doula services, including a description of doula services and the benefits of using doula services. The department, in consultation with other relevant entities, will develop a statewide, uniform curriculum for an optional doula certification. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 484 | State Rep. Matt Shaheen | Left pending in House committee - 3/09/21 | The commission shall implement the direct primary care model pilot program for medicaid statewide. Companion Bill: SB 1190 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 509 | State Rep. Michelle Beckley | Referred to Appropriations - 2/25/21 | The commission will provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 510 | State Rep. Michelle Beckley | Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 | A medicaid buy-in program for medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 511 | State Rep. Michelle Beckley | Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 |
A medicaid buy-in program for medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment with a small business. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 513 | State Rep. Michelle Beckley | Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 |
On the request of the commissioners court of a county and notwithstanding any other law, the executive commissioner will , on behalf of the county, seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1315) to the state medicaid plan to expand to the maximum extent permitted by federal law the categories of persons eligible for medicaid benefits by allowing the county to provide medicaid benefits to any resident of the county. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 705 | State Rep. Joe Moody | Left pending in House committee - 4/06/21 | The executive commissioner, with input from the work group established under Subsection (c), shall adopt rules to provide medicaid reimbursement for peer-to-peer services provided by recovery community organizations. Companion Bill: SB 1915 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 706 | State Rep. Joe Moody | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 |
Subject to appropriations, the commission shall assure that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter may select a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, a licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code, or a licensed clinical [master] social worker, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to perform any health care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance program if the selected person is authorized by law to perform the service or procedure. Companion Bill: SB 909 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez | Referred to Appropriations - 3/1/21 |
The commission shall provide medical assistance in accordance with 8 U.S.C. Section 1612(b) to a person who: (1) is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C. Sections 1641(b) and (c); (2) meets the eligibility requirements of the medical assistance program; (3) entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996; and (4) has resided in the United States for a period of five years after the date the person entered as a qualified alien. Companion Bill: SB 521 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Ray Lopez | Out of House Committee - 4/30/21 | Relating to health benefit plan coverage for early childhood intervention services. Companion Bill HB 908 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Julie Johnson |
Bill passed the House - 4/20/21 Bill referred to Senate Business and Commerce committee – 5/6/21 |
A health benefit plan issuer that provides prescription drug benefits may not require prior authorization of the prescription drug benefit for a prescription drug prescribed to treat a chronic or autoimmune disease. Companion Bill: SB 2043 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Julie Johnson | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 |
Relating to health benefit plan coverage for early childhood intervention services. Companion Bill HB 843 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Ron Reynolds | Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 | If the federal government establishes, through conversion or otherwise, a block grant funding system for the medicaid program or otherwise authorizes the state medicaid program to operate under a block grant funding system, including under a medicaid program waiver, the commission, in cooperation with applicable health and human services agencies, shall administer and operate the state medicaid program in accordance with this chapter. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Ron Reynolds | Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 |
A contract between a managed care organization and the commission for the organization to provide health care services to recipients must contain certain items. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. | Referred to Appropriations - 3/04/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons: (1) who are the working parent of a dependent child; (2) who apply for the assistance; and (3) for whom federal matching money is available.(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins | Referred to Human Services - 3/04/21 | The commission shall establish a process to allow a health care provider who provides health care services to recipients to negotiate with a medicaid managed care organization reimbursement rates that are comparable to prevailing market rates. The commission shall include the process in each contract between a managed care organization and the commission in addition to all other contract provisions required by this chapter. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Ramon Romero, Jr. | Referred to Human Services - 3/05/21 | With input from mental health and substance use peer specialists and the work group described by Subsection (b), the commission shall develop and the executive commissioner shall adopt: (1) rules that establish training requirements for peer specialists so that they are able to provide services to persons with mental illness or services to persons with substance use conditions, rules that establish certification, rules that authorize the provision of peer services by a peer specialist to persons who are 14 years of age or older. The commission in its rules and standards governing the scope of services provided under the medical assistance program shall include peer services provided by certified peer specialists, including peer services provided to persons who are 14 years of age or older, to the extent permitted by federal law. Companion Bill: SB 662 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Eddie Lucio III | Referred to Human Services - 3/05/21 | If a provider is included in a health benefit plan issuer's provider directory on the date an enrollee enrolls in the plan, the issuer shall, until the expiration of the health benefit plan contract year or other contract period during which the enrollee enrolled: (1) pay or reimburse the provider the in-network rate for services provided to the enrollee; and (2) ensure that the enrollee is not responsible for a cost-sharing amount that is higher than the amount the enrollee would have been required to pay if the service had been provided by an in-network provider. Companion Bill: SB 486 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond | Left pending in House committee - 4/27/21 | The provider protection plan required under this section must provide for: establishment and maintenance of an interoperable through which providers in any managed care organization's provider network may: (A) submit electronic claims, prior authorization requests, claims appeals and reconsiderations, clinical data, and other documentation that the managed care organization requests for prior authorization and claims processing; and (B) obtain electronic remittance advice, explanation of benefits statements, and other standardized reports. Companion Bill: SB 432 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Bobby Guerra | Out of House Committee - 5/4/21 | The executive commissioner shall establish a work group for the purpose of providing recommendations to improve the Texas Medicaid Procedures Manual in a manner that prevents the incidence of fraud, waste, or abuse in the provision of medicaid dental services. Companion Bill: SB 951 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | Referred to Human Services - 3/09/21 | The executive commissioner shall establish a separate provider type for local health departments, including health service regional offices acting in the capacity of local health departments, for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and reimbursement under the medical assistance program. Companion Bill: SB 73, HB 3834 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| State Rep. Lyle Larson | Referred to Appropriations - 3/10/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching money is available. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) | |
| HB 1741 | State Rep. Bobby Guerra | Referred to Appropriations - 3/10/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching money is available. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1816 | State Rep. Ryan Guillen | Referred to Human Services - 3/11/21 | Sets the base rate reimbursement for each nursing facility at an amount that is at least equal to the rate in effect on April 1, 2020, including any emergency temporary rate increase authorized under 1 T.A.C. Section 355.205. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1988 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | Referred to Human Services - 3/15/21 | The executive commissioner shall by rule adopt a program providing for (1) the determination and certification of presumptive eligibility for medical assistance of an elderly individual who requires a skilled level of nursing care; (2) the provision through the medical assistance program to the individual of that care in a home or community-based setting instead of in an institutional setting, provided the individual applies for and meets the basic eligibility requirements for medical assistance. Companion Bill: SB 322 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2121 | State Rep. Elizabeth Campos | Referred to Human Services - 3/15/21 | The executive commissioner shall set a personal needs allowance of not less than $100 a month for a resident of a convalescent or nursing facility or related institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, assisted living facility, ICF-IID facility, or other similar long-term care facility who receives medical assistance. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2346 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Left pending in House committee - 3/30/21 | In determining the usual and customary price of a prescription drug for purposes of determining the reimbursement amount for that drug under Subsection (a)(1), the commission shall exclude any discount price offered for the prescription drug, including a discount offered through a third party discount card or a membership discount price. Companion Bill: SB 299 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2449 | State Rep. Elizabeth Campos | Out of House Committee - 5/4/21 | A facility may not confiscate or misappropriate an eligible federal payment made to a resident who is a recipient of medicaid . Notwithstanding Section 242.066(b), a facility that violates this section is subject to an administrative penalty in the amount equal to $25,000 for each violation. Each day the facility fails to return confiscated or misappropriated money to the resident constitutes a separate violation. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2603 | State Rep. Matt Shaheen | Referred to Human Services - 3/17/21 | The commission shall develop a pilot program to implement a direct primary care model in medicaid through which a medicaid recipient enters into a medical service agreement with a physician for the provision of primary medical care services in exchange for a direct fee that is paid on a monthly basis. Companion Bill: SB 1190 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2685 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | Referred to Human Services - 3/17/21 | To reduce maternal mortality rates and racial disparities in health outcomes, the commission shall establish a pilot program to provide doula services to medicaid recipients, regardless of whether those recipients receive services through a medicaid managed care or fee-for-service delivery model. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2834 | State Rep. Greg Bonnen | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement to a treating health care provider who participates in medicaid for the provision to a child or adult medical assistance recipient of behavioral health services that are classified by a Current Procedural Terminology code as collaborative care management services. Companion Bill SB 672 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2856 | State Rep. Valoree Swanson | Out of House Committee - 5/6/21 | A provider who participates in medicaid or the child health plan program, including a provider participating in the provider network of a managed care organization that contracts with the com mission to provide services under medicaid or the child health plan program, may not refuse to provide health care services to a medicaid recipient or child health plan program enrollee based on the recipient's or enrollee's refusal or failure to obtain a vaccine or immunization for a particular infectious or communicable disease. Companion Bill: SB 1312 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2955 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Out of House Committee - 4/28/21 | To the extent permitted by federal law, in order to ensure that urban teaching hospitals are accurately reimbursed for the provision of inpatient hospital care to recipients under medicaid, the commission shall, on request from a teaching hospital, update on a biannual basis the education adjustment factor used to calculate the medical education add-on using the most current Medicare education adjustment factor data available under 42 C.F.R. Companion Bill: SB 1533 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2963 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Referred to Human Services - 3/18/21 | The Department of Family and Protective Services shall certify the income, assets, or resources of each individual on the date the individual exits substitute care. An individual qualifying for medical assistance as established by this section shall remain eligible for the maximum period permitted under federal law before any recertification is required. Companion Bill: SB 1059 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3082 | State Rep. Matt Krause | Out of House Committee - 4/26/21 |
Except as provided by Subsection (c), a person who commits an unlawful act is liable to the state. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3109 | State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman | Referred to Human Services - 3/19/21 | Relating to identifying and addressing social determinants of health in Medicaid managed care contracts. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3145 | State Rep. Joe Deshotel | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 | To prevent serious medical conditions and reduce emergency room visits necessitated by complications resulting from a lack of access to dental care, the commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement for preventive dental services, including reimbursement for at least one preventive dental care visit per year, for an adult recipient with a disability who is enrolled in the STAR+PLUS medicaid managed care program. This subsection does not apply to an adult recipient who is enrolled in the STAR+PLUS home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program. This subsection may not be construed to reduce dental services available to persons with disabilities that are otherwise reimbursable under the medical assistance program. Companion Bill: SB 1152 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3225 | State Rep. Gina Hinojosa | Left pending in committee - 4/13/21 | The commission shall ensure that medicaid reimbursement is provided to a local educational agency for all health care services covered under medicaid including behavioral health services, that are provided to students eligible for medicaid the agency by a health professional. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3228 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Out of House Committee - 4/06/21 | At least monthly, a medicaid managed care organization shall send an electronic copy of the recipient directory described by this section to the commission. Companion Bill: SB 1216 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3239 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Referred to Human Services - 3/19/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement to an authorized wound care education and training services provider who provides to a recipient necessary wound care education and training. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3419 | State Rep. Ryan Guillen | Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 | A children's hospital that meets Medicare participation requirements may enroll as a provider and receive reimbursement under the medical assistance program regardless of whether the hospital participates in the Medicare program. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection, including rules governing the application and enrollment process for a children's hospital seeking to participate in the medical assistance program as a medicaid -only hospital under this subsection. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3441 | State Rep. Gina Hinojosa | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | A contract between a managed care organization and the commission for the organization to provide health care services to recipients must contain certain things | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3646 | State Rep. Joe Moody | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | The commission shall require that each managed care organization that contracts with the commission to provide health care services to recipients in a region. Companion Bill: SB 2132 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3662 | State Rep. Brad Buckley | Bill passed the House - 5/7/21 | In providing health care services through medicaid managed care to recipients in a health care service region, the commission shall contract with a managed care organization in that region that is licensed under Chapter 843, Insurance Code, if subject to that chapter, to provide health care in that region. Companion Bill: SB 1403 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3672 | State Rep. Jarvis D. Johnson | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons (1) who are diagnosed with sickle cell disease;(2) who apply for the assistance; and (3) for whom federal matching money is available. (b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3677 | State Rep. Tan Parker | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | Relating to the coordination of Medicaid and private health benefits for Medicaid recipients with complex medical needs. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3678 | State Rep. Tan Parker | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | Relating to an insurer's obligation for continuity of care for certain Medicaid recipients. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3679 | State Rep. Tan Parker | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | Relating to the reimbursement of durable medical equipment providers participating in the Medicaid managed care program. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3705 | State Rep. Matt Krause | Referred to Human Services - 3/22/21 | The executive commissioner shall develop and implement: (1) a medicaid buy-in program for persons with disabilities as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-170) or the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-33). Companion Bill: SB 1243 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3834 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Referred to Human Services - 3/23/21 | The executive commissioner shall establish a separate provider type for local health departments, including health service regional offices acting in the capacity of local health departments, for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and reimbursement under the medical assistance program. Companion Bill: SB 73, HB 1666 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3871 | State Rep. Julie Johnson | Referred to Human Services - 3/24/21 | The executive commissioner shall develop and seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1315) to the state medicaid plan to implement the Live Well Texas program to assist individuals in obtaining health benefit coverage through a program health benefit plan or health care financial assistance. Companion Bill: SB 117 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3944 | State Rep. Stephanie Klick | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 | The commission shall, in accordance with this section, conduct an initial health risk assessment of each recipient who is to be enrolled in a managed care plan offered by a medicaid managed care organization. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4035 | State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle | Referred to Human Services - 3/29/21 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or other law, the executive commissioner shall ensure that the rules governing the determination of rates paid to a medical assistance provider are at least equal to the rates paid under Medicare for the provision of the same or substantially similar services. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4040 | State Rep. Matt Krause | Referred to Human Services - 3/29/21 | The commission shall develop a clear and easy process, to be implemented through a contract, that allows a recipient with complex medical needs, regardless of whether the recipient has primary health benefit plan coverage, who has established a relationship with a specialty provider to continue receiving care from that provider. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4053 | State Rep. Thresa Meza | Referred to Appropriations - 3/29/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons: (1) who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, dysthymia, schizophrenia, or severe chronic depression; (2) who have a family income that does not exceed 133 percent of the applicable federal poverty level; (3) who apply for the assistance; and (4) for whom federal matching money is available. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4058 | State Rep. Thresa Meza |
Bill passed the House - 5/16/21 Bill referred to Senate Health and Human Services committee – 5/17/21 |
The commission shall conduct a cost-benefit analysis comparing the cost to the state of providing applied behavior analysis services to children with autism compared with the effectiveness of the services in treating children with autism. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4084 | State Rep. James Talarico | Referred to Appropriations - 3/29/21 | The commission shall seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1315) to implement the Texas Care Plan medicaid buy-in program in accordance with this section. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4194 | State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond | Withdrawn from schedule - 4/27/21 | The commission in collaboration with each managed care organization contracted under this chapter shall develop and implement a home health care provider rating system to rate providers and measure quality standards for the delivery of long-term services and supports. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4252 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson | Left pending in House committee - 4/27/21 | Before the commission may award a contract under this chapter to a managed care organization, the commission shall evaluate and certify that the organization is reasonably able to fulfill the terms of the contract, including all requirements of applicable federal and state law. Companion Bill: SB 1244 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4265 | State Rep. Toni Rose | Referred to Human Services - 3/29/21 | With input from family partners and the work group established under Subsection (b), the commission shall develop and the executive commissioner shall adopt: (1) rules that establish training requirements for family partners so that they are able to provide family partner peer support services to families of children and youth with mental illness or substance use conditions. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4343 | State Rep. Toni Rose | Out of House Committee - 5/4/21 | If your preferred method of contact about health care matters is by electronic communication, including text message or e-mail, please be advised that while your managed care organization or health plan provider is required to protect the security of that communication, because electronic communication may not be encrypted there is still a risk of a security breach, including the risk of confidential or private information being intercepted by an unauthorized third party. By completing the form below, you acknowledge that you understand the risks associated with and consent to the use of electronic communication. Companion Bill: SB 1911 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4365 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 | The executive commissioner shall seek a waiver to the state Medicaid plan to develop and implement a five-year pilot project to improve the health care outcomes of Medicaid recipients and reduce associated health care costs by providing enhanced case management and other coordinated, evidence-based, non-medical intervention services designed to directly address recipient needs related to social determinants of health. Companion Bill: SB 651 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 38 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/03/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152), to provide that assistance. Companion Bills: HB 171, HB 389, HB 398, SB 119 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 96 | State Sen. Jose Menendez | Referred to Education - 3/3/21 | A school district may contract with a local mental health authority to provide mental health services on a campus of the district. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 117 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The executive commissioner shall develop and seek a waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1315) to the state medicaid plan to implement the Live Well Texas program to assist individuals in obtaining health benefit coverage through a program health benefit plan or health care financial assistance. Companion Bill: HB 3871 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 118 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152), to provide that assistance. Companion Bills: HB 171, HB 389 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 119 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance to all persons who apply for that assistance and for whom federal matching funds are available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152), to provide that assistance. Companion Bills: HB 171, HB 389, HB 398, SB 38 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 136 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The commission will allow each medicaid managed care organization providing health care services under the STAR medicaid managed care program to categorize services provided by a community health worker as a quality improvement cost, as authorized by federal law, instead of as an administrative expense. Companion Bill: HB 105 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 171 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco |
Bill passed the Senate - 5/5/21 Left pending in Senate committee - 5/18/21 |
The commission shall prepare a written report regarding provider reimbursement rates and access to care under medicaid. The commission shall collaborate with the medical care advisory committee established under Section 32.022, Human Resources Code, to develop and define the scope of the research for the report. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 191 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 |
In awarding contracts to managed care organizations, the commission will give extra consideration to organizations that use enriched data sets incorporating social determinants of health to manage socially complex populations in a manner that achieves. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 299 | State Sen. Juan Hinojosa | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | In determining the usual and customary price of a prescription drug for purposes of determining the reimbursement amount for that drug under Subsection (a)(1), the commission shall exclude any discount price offered for the prescription drug, including a discount offered through a third party discount card or a membership discount price. Companion Bill: HB 2346 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 322 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | The executive commissioner shall by rule adopt a program providing for (1) the determination and certification of presumptive eligibility for medical assistance of an elderly individual who requires a skilled level of nursing care; and (2) the provision through the medical assistance program to the individual of that care in a home or community-based setting instead of in an institutional setting, provided the individual applies for and meets the basic eligibility requirements for medical assistance. Companion Bill: HB 1988 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 428 | State Sen. Borris L. Miles | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | The commission shall implement the automatic enrollment in a manner that (1) ensures a seamless transition in the provision of services between medicaid or the child health plan program, as applicable, and the Healthy Texas Women program; and (2) allows a woman to begin receiving services through the Healthy Texas Women program on the first day the woman is no longer eligible for medical or the child health plan program, as applicable. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 430 | State Sen. Juan Hinojosa | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | On timely written request by a provider subject to a payment hold under Subdivision (2), other than a hold requested by the state's medical fraud control unit, the office shall file a request with the State Office of Administrative Hearings for an expedited administrative hearing regarding the hold not later than the third day after the date the office receives the provider's request. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 431 | State Sen. Juan Hinojosa | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a managed care organization may not attempt to recover an overpayment described by Subsection (a) until:(1) the provider has exhausted all rights to an appeal; and (2) if the underlying claim is subject to recoupment by the commission's office of the inspector general, a final determination by the State Office of Administrative Hearings affirming the overpayment. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 432 | State Sen. Juan Hinojosa | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 |
The commission, using existing resources, shall consolidate each electronic or Internet portal operated or maintained by the commission for the commission's use, including through a contract with a separate entity, that is used to receive and deliver requests and other information from and to medicaid providers, including nursing facility providers participating in the STAR+PLUS Previous medicaid managed care program, into the single Internet portal or equivalent electronic system. Companion Bill: HB 1625 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 521 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | The commission shall provide medical assistance in accordance with 8 U.S.C. Section 1612(b) to a person who: (1) is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C. Sections 1641(b) and (c); (2) meets the eligibility requirements of the medical assistance program; (3) entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996; and (4) has resided in the United States for a period of five years after the date the person entered as a qualified alien. Companion Bill: HB 734 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 651 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 | The executive commissioner shall seek a waiver to the state Medicaid plan to develop and implement a five-year pilot project to improve the health care outcomes of Medicaid recipients and reduce associated health care costs by providing enhanced case management and other coordinated, evidence-based, non-medical intervention services designed to directly address recipient needs related to social determinants of health. Companion Bill: HB 4365 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 662 | State Sen. Beverly Powell | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 | The commission in its rules and standards governing the scope of services provided under the medical assistance program shall include peer services provided by certified peer specialists, including peer services provided to persons who are 14 years of age or older, to the extent permitted by federal law. Companion Bill: HB 1413 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 674 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 | The executive commissioner, in the rules and standards governing the vendor drug program, may not require clinical, non-preferred, or other prior authorization for an antipsychotic drug prescribed to an adult patient in certain instances. Companion Bill: HB 2822 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 909 | State Sen. Beverly Powell | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 |
Subject to appropriations, the commission shall assure that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter may select a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, a licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code, or a licensed clinical [master] social worker, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to perform any health care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance program if the selected person is authorized by law to perform the service or procedure. Companion Bill: HB 706 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 951 | State Sen. Juan Hinojosa | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 |
The executive commissioner shall establish a work group for the purpose of providing recommendations to improve the Texas Medicaid Procedures Manual in a manner that prevents the incidence of fraud, waste, or abuse in the provision of Medicaid dental services. Companion Bill: HB 1629 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1152 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 |
To prevent serious medical conditions and reduce emergency room visits necessitated by complications resulting from a lack of access to dental care, the commission shall provide medical assistance reimbursement for preventive dental services, including reimbursement for at least one preventive dental care visit per year, for an adult recipient with a disability who is enrolled in the STAR+PLUS medicaid managed care program. This subsection does not apply to an adult recipient who is enrolled in the STAR+PLUS home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program. This subsection may not be construed to reduce dental services available to persons with disabilities that are otherwise reimbursable under the medical assistance program. Companion Bill: HB 3145 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1190 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 |
The commission shall implement the direct primary care model pilot program for medicaid statewide. Companion Bill: HB 484, HB 2603 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1243 | State Sen. Charles Perry | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 |
The executive commissioner shall develop and implement: (1) a medicaid buy-in program for persons with disabilities as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106-170) or the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-33). Companion Bill: HB 3705 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1312 | State Sen. Bob Hall | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 |
A provider who participates in medicaid or the child health plan program, including a provider participating in the provider network of a managed care organization that contracts with the com mission to provide services under medicaid or the child health plan program, may not refuse to provide health care services to a medicaid recipient or child health plan program enrollee based on the recipient's or enrollee's refusal or failure to obtain a vaccine or immunization for a particular infectious or communicable disease. Companion Bill: HB 2856 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1403 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 |
In providing health care services through medicaid managed care to recipients in a health care service region, the commission shall contract with a managed care organization in that region that is licensed under Chapter 843, Insurance Code, if subject to that chapter, to provide health care in that region. Companion Bill: HB 3662 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1533 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/24/21 |
To the extent permitted by federal law, in order to ensure that urban teaching hospitals are accurately reimbursed for the provision of inpatient hospital care to recipients under medicaid, the commission shall, on request from a teaching hospital, update on a biannual basis the education adjustment factor used to calculate the medical education add-on using the most current Medicare education adjustment factor data available under 42 C.F.R. Companion Bill: HB 2955 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1915 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Health & Human Services - 4/01/21 |
The executive commissioner, with input from the work group established under Subsection (c), shall adopt rules to provide medicaid reimbursement for peer-to-peer services provided by recovery community organizations. Companion Bill: HB 705 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 2043 | State Sen. Jose Menendez | Referred to Business & Commerce - 4/01/21 |
A health benefit plan issuer that provides prescription drug benefits may not require prior authorization of the prescription drug benefit for a prescription drug prescribed to treat a chronic or autoimmune disease. Companion Bill: HB 907 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 2132 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Health & Human Services - 4/01/21 |
The commission shall require that each managed care organization that contracts with the commission to provide health care services to recipients in a region. Companion Bill: HB 3646 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
Tele-health Related Bills |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2019) |
| HB 280 | State Rep. Philip Cortez | Referred to Public Health - 2/25/21 | The commission shall develop and implement an action plan to expand the use by health care providers of telemedicine medical services, tele-health services, and related mobile applications for those services and increase access to those services and applications for the residents of this state. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 515 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bills: SB 228, HB 522, HB 980 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 522 | State Rep. Julie Johnson | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bills: SB 228, HB 515, HB 980 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 745 | State Rep. Bobby Guerra | Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21 | A school district may establish a tele-health program through which students and employees of the district may receive tele-health services during a school day. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 887 | State Rep. Matt Shaheen | Left pending in House committee - 3/30/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bills: SB 228 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 974 | State Rep. Four Price | Referred to Public Health - 3/1/21 | The executive commissioner by rule shall ensure that a federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic may be reimbursed for the originating site facility fee or the distant site practitioner fee or both, as appropriate, for a covered telemedicine medical service or tele-health service delivered by a health care provider to a medicaid. Companion Bill: SB 412, HB 4 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 980 | State Rep. Art Fierro | Out of House Committee - 5/7/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a Previous telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bills: SB 228, HB 515, HB 522 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1446 | State Rep. Trent Ashby | Referred to State Affairs - 3/05/21 | The council shall: (1) research the progress of: (A) broadband development in unserved areas; and (B) deployment of broadband services statewide; (2) identify barriers to residential and commercial broadband deployment in unserved areas; analyze how statewide access to broadband would benefit the delivery of health care services including tele-health and telemedicine. Companion Bill: SB 506 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1722 | State Rep. Vikki Goodwin | Referred to Insurance - 3/10/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1742 | State Rep. Bobby Guerra | Left pending in House committee - 3/31/21 | A health professional providing a health care service or procedure as a telemedicine medical service, a tele-dentistry dental service, or a tele-health service is subject to the standard of care that would apply to the provision of the same health care service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bill: SB 488 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1990 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | Referred to Public Health - 3/15/21 | The commission shall ensure that, to the extent appropriate, a medicaid recipient or child health plan program enrollee who is eligible to receive service coordination benefits, including a recipient or enrollee receiving tele-health service or otherwise using telecommunications or information technology. Companion Bill: SB 434 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2612 | State Rep. John Raney | Left pending in House committee - 3/31/21 | The executive commissioner by rule shall ensure that a rural health clinic as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(1) and a federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B) may be reimbursed for the originating site facility fee or the distant site practitioner fee or both, as appropriate, for a covered tele-medical medical service or tele-health service delivered by a health care provider to a medicaid recipient. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2792 | State Rep. Drew Darby |
Bill passed the House - 4/23/21 Out of Senate Committee - 5/20/21 |
The commission, with the assistance of the center, shall establish a pilot project to provide emergency medical services instruction and emergency prehospital care instruction through a telemedicine medical service provided by regional trauma resource centers. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3098 | State Rep. Jeff Cason |
Bill passed the House - 5/11/21 Bill referred to Senate Business and Commerce committee – 5/13/21 |
A medical examination conducted under this section to determine an employee's impairment rating or attainment of maximum medical improvement may be performed using tele-health services or telemedicine medical services, as defined by Section 111.001, Occupations Code. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3396 | State Rep. Thresa Meza | Referred to Public Health - 3/22/21 | To the extent permitted by federal law, the commission shall ensure that medicaid recipients and child health plan program enrollees, regardless of whether receiving benefits through a managed care delivery model or another delivery model, have the option to receive behavioral health services as a tele-health service or tele-health medical service, as appropriate, using audio-only technology if the provider determines that the use of audio-only technology is clinically appropriate and meets the standard of care for providing the services. Companion Bill: SB 1275 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3499 | State Rep. James Frank | Referred to Public Health - 3/22/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health professional located outside of this state who holds an active and unencumbered license issued by another state may provide to a patient located in this state a tele-health service if the health professional is authorized to provide the service by the state in which the health professional is licensed. Companion Bill: SB 992 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3740 | State Rep. Ryan Guillen |
Bill passed the House - 5/14/21 Bill referred to Senate Health and Human Services committee – 5/17/21 |
The program required under this section must:1) provide that home tele-monitoring services are available only to certain persons | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 228 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/3/21 | A health benefit plan issuer must reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional for providing a covered health care service or procedure to a covered patient as a Previous telemedicine medical service or tele-health service on the same basis and at least at the same rate that the issuer provides reimbursement to that health professional for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bills: HB 515, HB 522, HB 887, HB 980 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 412 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Left pending in Senate committee - 3/23/21 | The executive commissioner by rule shall ensure that a federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B) or a rural health clinic as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(1) may be reimbursed for the originating site facility fee or the distant site practitioner fee or both, as appropriate, for a covered telemedicine medical service or tele-health service delivered by a health care provider to a medicaid recipient. Companion Bills: HB 4, HB 974 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 434 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | Relating to the provision and delivery of certain health, mental health, and educational services in this state, including the delivery of those services using telecommunications or information technology. Companion Bill: HB 1990 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 488 | State Sen. Charles Perry | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21 | A health professional providing a health care service or procedure as a telemedicine medical service, a tele-dentistry dental service, or a tele-health service is subject to the standard of care that would apply to the provision of the same health care service or procedure in an in-person setting. Companion Bill: HB 1742, HB 2056 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 506 | State Sen. Robert Nichols | Referred to Transportation - 3/9/21 | The council shall: (1) research the progress of: (A) broadband development in unserved areas; and (B) deployment of broadband services statewide; (2) identify barriers to residential and commercial broadband deployment in unserved areas; analyze how statewide access to broadband would benefit the delivery of health care services including tele-health and tele-medicine. Companion Bill: HB 1446 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 992 | State Sen. Kelly Hancock | Left pending in Senate committee - 3/30/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health professional located outside of this state who holds an active and unencumbered license issued by another state may provide to a patient located in this state a tele-health service if the health professional is authorized to provide the service by the state in which the health professional is licensed. Companion Bill: HB 3499 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1275 | State Sen. Royce West | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 | To the extent permitted by federal law, the commission shall ensure that medicaid recipients and child health plan program enrollees, regardless of whether receiving benefits through a managed care delivery model or another delivery model, have the option to receive behavioral health services as a tele-health service or tele-health medical service, as appropriate, using audio-only technology if the provider determines that the use of audio-only technology is clinically appropriate and meets the standard of care for providing the services. Companion Bill: HB 3396 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
Other Healthcare Access Bills |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2019) |
| HB 154 | State Rep. Diego Bernal | Referred to Human Services - 2/25/21 | The commission in consultation with the commissioner of insurance shall develop and implement a program that helps connect certain children in this state with health benefit plan coverage through private market solutions. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 508 | State Rep. Michelle Beckley | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 | A health benefit plan issuer may not: deny coverage to or refuse to enroll an individual in a health benefit plan on the basis of a preexisting condition, limit or exclude coverage under the health benefit plan for treatment of the individual's preexisting condition otherwise covered under the plan, or charge the individual more for coverage than the health benefit plan issuer charges an individual who does not have a preexisting condition. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 602 | State Rep. Gina Hinojosa | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 | Covered health care benefits under the program include all health care services determined to be clinically appropriate by a member's health care provider. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 609 | State Rep. Donna Howard | Referred to Insurance - 3/1/21 | This chapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1491 | State Rep. Jay Dean | Left pending in House committee - 3/17/21 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, in an action on a health care liability claim where final judgment is rendered against a rural or community hospital, the limit of civil liability for noneconomic damages of the hospital, inclusive of all persons and entities for which vicarious liability theories may apply, is limited to an amount not to exceed $100,000, regardless of the number of defendants against whom the claim is asserted or the number of separate causes of action on which the claim is based. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1529 | State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer | Referred to Insurance - 3/8/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health benefit plan issuer may not deny coverage to or refuse to enroll a group, an individual, or an individual's dependent in a health benefit plan on the basis of a preexisting condition or health status related factor. Companion Bill: SB 459, HB 1541 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1541 | State Rep. Julie Johnson | Referred to Insurance - 3/8/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health benefit plan issuer may not deny coverage to or refuse to enroll a group, an individual, or an individual's dependent in a health benefit plan on the basis of a preexisting condition or health status related factor. Companion Bill: SB 459, HB 1529 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1617 | State Rep. Greg Bonnen | Left pending in House committee - 4/6/21 | In addition to any other limitation under law, recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant. Companion Bill: SB 207 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1646 | State Rep. Stan Lambert |
Bill passed the House - 5/5/21 Bill referred to Senate Business and Commerce committee – 5/11/21 |
Health benefit plan issuer may modify drug coverage provided under a health benefit plan under certain circumstances. Companion Bill: SB 1142 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1859 | State Rep. Philip Cortez | Referred to Public Health - 3/11/21 | The commission and the advisory committee jointly shall conduct a study to assess the interoperability needs and technology readiness of behavioral health service providers in this state. Companion Bill: SB 640 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1886 | State Rep. Candy Noble | Out of House Committee - 4/12/21 | The Legislative Budget Board must study welfare programs available in the State of Texas for the purpose of streamlining program eligibility requirements, resources, and services to improve outcomes for beneficiaries and reduce costs to taxpayers. The study must cover each of the five years prior to the date this Act takes effect. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 1907 | State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle |
Bill passed the House - 5/14/21 Bill referred to Senate Business and Commerce committee – 5/17/21 |
The department shall collaborate with and leverage the existing resources and infrastructure of the center to establish a statewide all payor claims database to collect, process, and store health care claims information. Companion Bill: SB 1135 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2333 | State Rep. Donna Howard | Bill passed the House - 5/14/21 | The commission shall establish and administer a competitive grant program under which the commission awards grants to eligible service providers to provide or expand home nursing visitation services for newborn caregivers. Companion Bill: SB 1520 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2487 | State Rep. Tom Oliverson | Left pending in House committee - 4/7/21 | A hospital shall: (1) maintain a list of all standard charges for all hospital items or services in accordance with this section; and (2) ensure the list required under Subdivision (1) is available at all times to the public, including by posting the list electronically in the manner provided by this section. Companion Bills: SB 914, SB 1137 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2516 | State Rep. Thresa Meza | Referred to Insurance - 3/17/21 | A health benefit plan issuer may not provide coverage for conversion therapy. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2636 | State Rep. Ray Lopez | Referred to Insurance - 3/17/21 | A health benefit plan must provide coverage for a covered individual who is 55 years of age or older or who has a chronic medical condition for the cost of any at-home diagnostic medical device recommended by the individual's primary care provider. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2651 | State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez | Left pending in House committee - 4/20/21 | A health benefit plan that provides benefits for a prescription contraceptive drug must provide for an enrollee to obtain up to: (1) a three-month supply of the covered prescription contraceptive drug at one time the first time the enrollee obtains the drug; and (2) a 12-month supply of the covered prescription contraceptive drug at one time each subsequent time the enrollee obtains the same drug, regardless of whether the enrollee was enrolled in the health benefit plan the first time the enrollee obtained the drug. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 2755 | State Rep. Eddie Lucio III | Out of House Committee - 5/6/21 | A health benefit plan that provides coverage for general anesthesia may not exclude from coverage general anesthesia services in connection with dental services provided to a covered individual who is: (1) younger than 18 years of age; and (2) unable to undergo the dental service in an office setting due to a documented physical, mental, or medical reason determined by the individual's physician or by the dentist providing the dental care. Companion Bill: SB 401 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3043 | State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry | Referred to Insurance - 3/19/21 | A health benefit plan issuer may not: deny coverage to or refuse to enroll an individual in a health benefit plan on the basis of a prior diagnosis of COVID-19. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3161 | State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer | Referred to Public Health - 3/19/21 | The purpose of a para-medicine program is to create collaborative relationships between health care practitioners, health care facilities, and emergency medical services personnel to improve patient care access and management, patient health outcomes, cost-effectiveness in the use of health care services, and community population health. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3368 | State Rep. Ina Minjarez | Out of House Committee - 5/4/21 | The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3761 | State Rep. Ryan Guillen | Out of House Committee - 5/10/21 | A recipient who experiences an event or circumstance, including a temporary increase in income of a duration of one month or less or a minor technical or clerical error committed on or with respect to the recipient's renewal application or other document required for benefits renewal, that would normally result in the recipient being determined ineligible for medical assistance continues to be eligible for that assistance under certain instances. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3947 | State Rep. Sergio Munoz, Jr. | Referred to Insurance - 3/24/21 | A health benefit plan issuer shall provide on its publicly available Internet website an interactive mechanism that, for a health care service classified by the Current Procedural Terminology code associated with the service. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 3951 | State Rep. Philip Cortez | Bill passed the House - 5/14/21 | A health benefit plan that provides coverage under this section may not charge any premium, copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing for a covered benefit described by this section. Companion Bill: SB 1539 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4045 | State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer | Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 | A health care facility shall post price information of the facility's health care services on its Internet website. The information must be accessible from a link on the website's home page. Companion Bill: SB 1684 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4143 | State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman | Referred to Insurance - 3/29/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health benefit plan issuer may not: (1) deny coverage to or refuse to enroll a group, an individual, or an individual's dependent in a health benefit plan on the basis of a preexisting condition or health status related factor. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4144 | State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman | Referred to Public Health - 3/29/21 | The covered services under the CHIP perinatal program must include, for each woman who gives birth to a child who is enrolled in the CHIP perinatal program before birth, screening and treatment for postpartum depression for the 12-month period after the date the woman gives birth to the child. Companion Bill: SB 218 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4302 | State Rep. Toni Rose | Referred to Human Services - 3/29/21 | The commission shall maintain the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System (MEDCARES) grant program to award grants for the purpose of developing and supporting regional programs to improve the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect as described by the report submitted to the 80th Legislature by the committee on pediatric centers of excellence relating to abuse and neglect in accordance with Section 266.0031, Family Code, as added by Chapter 1406 (S.B. 758), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007. Companion Bill: SB 1199 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4311 | State Rep. John H. Bucy III | Referred to Human Services - 3/29/21 | The commission, exclusive of medicaid , by rule shall develop and implement a program under which health care services are provided to medically fragile children with a rare and unique disease or medical condition. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| HB 4385 | State Rep. Jared Patterson | Referred to Business & Industry - 3/29/21 | The medical advisor shall make recommendations regarding the adoption of rules and policies. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 166 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/3/21 | A health benefit plan may not impose a cost-sharing provision for insulin if the total amount the enrollee is required to pay exceeds $25 for a 30-day supply. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 207 | State Sen. Charles Schwertner |
Bill passed the Senate - 4/20/21 Out of House Committee - 5/13/21 |
In addition to any other limitation under law, recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant. Companion Bill: HB 1617 |
No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 218 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The covered services under the CHIP perinatal program must include, for each woman who gives birth to a child who is enrolled in the CHIP perinatal program before birth, screening and treatment for postpartum depression for the 12-month period after the date the woman gives birth to the child. Companion Bill: HB 4144 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 264 | State Sen. Jose Menendez | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21 | The Texas Research Consortium to Cure Infectious Diseases (TRANSCEND) is established to have certain duties. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 401 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | A health benefit plan that provides coverage for general anesthesia may not exclude from coverage general anesthesia services in connection with dental services provided to a covered individual who is: (1) younger than 18 years of age; and (2) unable to undergo the dental service in an office setting due to a documented physical, mental, or medical reason determined by the individual's physician or by the dentist providing the dental care. Companion Bill: HB 2755 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 436 | State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | In this chapter, "preexisting condition" means a condition, including a diagnosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or a related symptom or condition, present before the effective date of an individual's coverage under a health benefit plan. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 459 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | Notwithstanding any other law, a health benefit plan issuer may not: (1) deny coverage to or refuse to enroll a group, an individual, or an individual's dependent in a health benefit plan on the basis of a preexisting condition or health status related factor. Companion Bill: HB 1529, HB 1541 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 486 | State Sen. Charles Schwertner | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | If a provider is included in a health benefit plan issuer's provider directory on the date an enrollee enrolls in the plan, the issuer shall, until the expiration of the health benefit plan contract year or other contract period during which the enrollee enrolled: (1) pay or reimburse the provider the in-network rate for services provided to the enrollee; and (2) ensure that the enrollee is not responsible for a cost-sharing amount that is higher than the amount the enrollee would have been required to pay if the service had been provided by an in-network provider. Companion Bill: HB 1436 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 493 | State Sen. Nathan Johnson | Left pending in Senate committee - 3/31/21 | A nursing facility licensed under this chapter shall maintain professional liability insurance coverage against the liability of the facility or the facility's employees for a health care liability claim. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 519 | State Sen. Charles Schwertner | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/9/21 | A health maintenance organization may not use extrapolation to complete an audit of a participating physician or provider. Any additional payment due a participating physician or provider or any refund due the health maintenance organization must be based on the actual overpayment or underpayment and may not be based on an extrapolation. | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 914 | State Sen. Kelly Hancock | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/11/21 | A hospital shall: (1) maintain a list of all standard charges for all hospital items or services in accordance with this section; and (2) ensure the list required under Subdivision (1) is available at all times to the public, including by posting the list electronically in the manner provided by this section. Companion Bills: SB 1137, HB 2487 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1135 | State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/18/21 | The department shall collaborate with and leverage the existing resources and infrastructure of the center to establish a statewide all payor claims database to collect, process, and store health care claims information. Companion Bill: HB 1907 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1142 | State Sen. Judith Zaffirini | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/18/21 | Health benefit plan issuer may modify drug coverage provided under a health benefit plan under certain circumstances. Companion Bill: HB 1646 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1199 | State Sen. Beverly Powell | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21 | The commission shall maintain the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System grant program to award grants for the purpose of developing and supporting regional programs to improve the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect as described by the report submitted to the 80th Legislature by the committee on pediatric centers of excellence relating to abuse and neglect in accordance with Section 266.0031, Family Code, as added by Chapter 1406 (S.B. 758), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007. Companion Bill: HB 4302 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1299 | State Sen. Jane Nelson | Referred to Criminal Justice - 3/18/21 | There are certain services that are provided for victims. Companion Bill: HB 2706 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1520 | State Sen. Kel Seliger | Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/24/21 | The commission shall establish and administer a competitive grant program under which the commission awards grants to eligible service providers to provide or expand home nursing visitation services for newborn caregivers. Companion Bill: HB 2333 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1539 | State Sen. Jose Menendez | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/24/21 | A health benefit plan that provides coverage under this section may not charge any premium, copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing for a covered benefit described by this section. Companion Bill: HB 3951 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 1684 | State Sen. Beverly Powell | Referred to Business & Commerce - 3/24/21 | A health care facility shall post price information of the facility's health care services on its Internet website. The information must be accessible from a link on the website's home page. Companion Bill: HB 4045 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
| SB 2009 | State Sen. Dawn Buckingham | Referred to Health & Human Services - 4/1/21 | The department shall designate as centers of excellence for the management and treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorder one or more health care entities or programs in this state, including any institution or community hospital with the appropriate resources and personnel, as determined by the department and the review committee. Companion Bill: HB 1164 | No past bills (new topic tracked in 2021) |
Healthcare Access Resources:
- RPC: Public Health Outcomes of Healthcare Access
- Texas Health and Human Services: Medicaid and CHIP
- Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal
- Community Health Worker Research Materials
- Medicaid Expansion
- Healthcare Coverage Guide
- Healthcare Policy for Medically Frail Children
- Overview of Affordable Care Act and Medicaid
- Choosing Your Care: How Direct Care Can Give Patients More Choice
- Texas Individual Health Insurance Laws & Regulations
- Medicaid and CHIP Basics
- School Health and Related Services
- Insurance for Kids Facts
- Texas Health Care Guide
- What is the State of Primary Care in Your County?
