Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

__ HEALTH AND HUMAN
ERVICES/Health Care
UMAN SERVICES
77 th Texas Legislature
Expands a program for certifying persons who act as promotoras established by TDH to include community
health workers. In adopting minimum standards and guidelines, TBH must consider any findings and adopt
any applicable recommendations of the committee. Receipt of a certificate under this program is not
required for promotoras or community health workers who provide services without compensation, but is
mandatory for those receiving compensation.
Patient Assistance Programs Offered by Pharmaceutical Companies - S.B. 1763
by Senators Moncrief and Shapleigh
House Sponsor: Representative Gray
Requires each pharmaceutical company doing business in Texas that offers a patient assistance program
to inform the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) of the program’s existence, the
eligibility requirements, and the drugs covered and to provide information such as a telephone number
used for applying for the program.
Requires the commission to establish and publicize a toll-free telephone number system that the public can
call to obtain information about available patient assistance programs. The system must be staffed at least
during normal business hours with persons who can:
• determine whether a drug is covered by a patient assistance program;
• determine whether the person is eligible to participate in a program; and
• assist persons who wish to apply for a program.
Task Force to Eliminate Health and Health Access Disparities in Texas - H.B. 757
by Representative Coleman
Senate Sponsor: Senator Bernsen
Establishes the health disparities task force, which is charged with consulting with the Texas Department of
Health and OMH/CC in eliminating health and health access disparities in Texas among multicultural,
disadvantaged, and regional populations.
State Prescription Drug Program for Certain Medicare Beneficiaries - H.B. 1094
by Representative Gray, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Moncrief
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to develop and implement a state
prescription drug program (program) that operates in the same manner as the vendor drug program under
the Texas Human Resources Code, which provides prescription drug benefits to recipients of medical
assistance. The program must be developed and implemented not later than January 1, 2002.
Sets out who is eligible for prescription drug benefits under the program.
Provides that prescription drugs under the program may be funded only with state money, unless there are
federal funds available to fund all or part of the program.
Senate Research Center 126