Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
CHIP
ERVICES/Medicaid /Medicaid and
77 th Texas Legislature
medical assistance to remain eligible for 12 calendar months after certification and after each
recertification.
Medicaid Pilot Program to Treat Children's Asthma - S.B. 616
by Senator Van de Putte
House Sponsor: Representative Capelo
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to develop a Medicaid disease
management pilot program for children's asthma for implementation in those counties selected by the
Texas Department of Health (TDH) with a high incidence of, and high rate of hospital emergency room care
for, children's asthma. In developing the program, the commission must consider similar programs in
Virginia and Florida. The pilot program must provide:
• continuous care, case management, and asthma education to Medicaid recipients younger than 19
years of age who have been hospitalized or received emergency care services for asthma; and
• health care provider education to ensure the appropriate use of specialized asthma treatments for
those recipients.
Requires the commission and TDH to implement the program not later than November 1, 2001. In
implementing the program, the commission and TDH, to the extent possible, must use the services of local
health care professionals.
Requires the commissioner of public health (commissioner) to establish an asthma and allergy research
advisory committee (committee) and sets out the committee’s composition and duties, including developing
a plan to research asthma and allergy and associated medical conditions in Texas, analyzing the impact of
asthma and allergy on the state’s economy and public health, and making recommendations to the
legislature and governor concerning asthma and allergy research.
Provides that the committee is abolished January 1, 2003.
Authorizes the commission, if it determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is
necessary for implementation of this Act, to request the waiver or authorization and delay implementation
until it is granted.
Promotoras Services for Medicaid Outreach and Education Programs - S.B. 751
by Senators Shapleigh and Madla
House Sponsor: Representative Chavez
A promotora is a bilingual liaison between health care providers and patients through activities that include
assisting in case conferences, providing patient education, making referrals to health and social services,
conducting needs assessments, distributing surveys to identify barriers to health care delivery, making
Senate Research Center 142