Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

__ HEALTH AND HUMAN
ERVICES/Health Care
UMAN SERVICES
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires the commission to adopt rules necessary for implementation of the program and sets out what
those rules may include. In adopting these rules, the commission must consult with an advisory panel
composed of an equal number of physicians, pharmacists, and pharmacologists appointed by the
commission.
Authorizes the commission, in adopting the rules, to require that, unless a prescription clearly indicates that
the prescription must be dispensed as written, the pharmacist may select a generic equivalent of the
prescribed drug.
Provides that if the money available for the program is insufficient to provide prescription drug benefits to all
eligible persons, the commission must limit the number of enrollees based on available funding and sets
out the order of priority in which prescription drug benefits will be provided to eligible persons.
Medical Services Compensation - H.B. 2287
by Representative Edwards
Senate Sponsor: Senator Moncrief
Hospitals receive compensation through a reimbursement fund for services rendered under the medical
assistance program. Physicians who provide medical services at these hospitals are offered little to no
compensation.
Authorizes hospitals to contract with physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients based on
the hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria.
Prescription Contraceptives - H.B. 2382
by Representative Thompson, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Wentworth
Seeks uniformity of coverage for consumers who may choose contraceptive devices not covered by an
insurer’s health benefit plan. Under the Texas Administrative Code, an insurer who covers all other
prescriptions is prohibited from denying coverage of oral contraceptives of drugs or devices approved by
the United States Food and Drug Administration or an outpatient contraceptive service.
Emergency Medical Services - H.B. 2446
by Representative Glaze, et al
Senate Sponsor: Senator Madla
In its interim report to the 77th Texas Legislature, the House Committee on Public Health examined the
requirements imposed on emergency medical service (EMS) providers in rural areas to determine whether
individual requirements encourage or hinder the provision of services.
Requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to establish a pilot program to test the efficacy of using
emergency medical dispatchers located in a regional emergency medical dispatch resource center.
Requires TDH to select one public safety answering point to serve as a regional emergency medical
dispatch resource center. Sets forth requirements for the public safety answering point selected as the
resource center for the pilot program. Requires TDH and the advisory council, in selecting an existing
Senate Research Center 127