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13 Document(s) [ Subject: Prescription drug costs ]

Committee:	House Health Care Reform, Select
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Children's Health Insurance Program | Disease prevention | Health care | Health care costs | Health care disparities | Health insurance | Medicaid | Medical screening | Prescription drug costs |
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View report [102 pages  File size: 2,402 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the implications of excessive health care costs on the efficacy of Texas Medicaid and the private health insurance market and the resulting impact on individual Texans, businesses, and state government. Specifically, the committee shall: Examine the interaction of specific factors of health care affordability such as transparency, competition, and patient incentives. Make recommendations to expand access to health care price information to allow consumers to make informed decisions regarding their care; Examine the impact of government benefit, administrative, and contractual mandates imposed upon private insurance companies and their impact on employer and consumer premiums and out-of-pocket costs, including the effects of specific benefit and any-willing-provider requirements. Make recommendations for state and agency level mandates and regulations that could be relaxed or repealed to increase the availability and affordability of private health coverage options in this state; and Review access to and affordability of prescription drugs.
2.	Monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, current price transparency requirements and study ways that the state can support patients and increase competition. Make legislative and administrative recommendations, as appropriate.
3.	Evaluate innovative, fiscally positive options to ensure that Texans have access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care, with an emphasis on reaching low income and at-risk populations. The evaluation should include a study of strategies other states and organizations have implemented or proposed to address health care access and affordability. Make recommendations to increase primary health care access points in Texas.
4.	Study ways to improve outreach to families with children who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, Medicaid or CHIP, including children in rural areas.
5.	Examine the potential impact of delayed care on the state's health care delivery system, health care costs, and patient health outcomes, as well as best practices for getting patients with foregone or delayed health interventions back into the health care system. The study should consider patient delays in obtaining preventive and primary health services, such as well-child care, prenatal care, screenings for cancer and chronic disease, behavioral health, and immunizations, in addition to delays in seeking urgent care or care for chronic illness.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Health Care Reform, Select
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, August 4, 2022
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View document [584 pages  File size: 53,345 kb]
Committee:	House Insurance
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Consumer protection | Emergency medical services | Health insurance | Insurance industry | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | Rebates | Texas Mutual Insurance |
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View report [113 pages  File size: 2,704 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following: HB 18, 87th R.S., relating to the establishment of the prescription drug savings program for certain uninsured individuals; HB 3459, 87th R.S., relating to preauthorization requirements for certain health care services and utilization review for certain health benefit plans; HB 3752, 87th R.S., relating to the offering of health benefit coverage by subsidiaries of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company; and HB 3924, 87th R.S., relating to health benefits offered by certain nonprofit agricultural organizations.
2.	Review existing state laws, administrative regulations, and agency practices to identify barriers to competition in the insurance marketplace. Examine existing business practices in the industry to determine if additional laws or regulations are needed to promote competition, lower premiums, and protect consumers.
3.	Monitor the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of legislation related to freestanding emergency rooms to determine whether patients are adequately protected and if further safeguards and disclosures are needed.
4.	Review Texas' insurance anti-rebating laws and model legislation related to rebates. Make recommendations for legislation that would preserve the purpose of the current statute while allowing certain services for and benefits to insurance consumers.
5.	Study the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and the federal No Surprises Act (2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law No. 116-620) on the Texas insurance market.
Committee:	House Business and Industry
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Corporate governance | Death benefits | Electronic security | Homeowners' associations | Independent contractors | International trade | Pharmaceutical industry | Pharmacies | Physicians | Prescription drug costs | Risk Management, State Office of | Small businesses | State agencies | Transportation network companies | Welfare-to-work | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 B964
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [67 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study Texas businesses' utilization of the Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and the associated state tax refund under Subchapter H, Labor Code, in employing those who are receiving government benefits and/or have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. Conduct a cost/benefit analysis of the tax credit vis-a-vis savings in federal and state public assistance programs. Make recommendations to remove any unnecessary administrative obstructions and expand Texas business owners' use of the program.
2.	Identify and address potential gaps in Texas businesses’ cybersecurity policies and ensure that Texans’ personal information held by these businesses is secure.
3.	Evaluate how Texas can support shared economy growth in the state. Determine how the state can ensure customer security and satisfaction as well as consumer protections without enacting burdensome regulations. Additionally, study the effects of a growing portion of the state's workforce seeking full-time vs. supplemental part-time employment with related technology-based businesses. Analyze recent debate and legal precedent regarding the classification of these employees.
4.	Examine the regulatory powers of property owners associations, and the procedures available to home owners when an association restricts individual or property rights. Review current best practices to help clarify the balance of property rights, transparency in governance, and the best interests of property owners in the state.
5.	Study the impact of recent Texas cases related to the rights and remedies of shareholders of Texas corporate forms, including the impact of those decisions on the legal rights of both Texas corporations and shareholders and any impact on the Texas business climate.
6.	Study the requirement for state agencies and entities to purchase insurance through the State Office of Risk Management (SORM), and the agencies and entities that are exempt from this requirement. Examine the costs and benefits of each approach, and the waiver process by which SORM can allow agencies to purchase insurance on their own.
7.	Study the following aspects of the designated doctor process in the Texas workers' compensation system: a. the Division of Workers' Compensation's (DWC's) processes for educating, monitoring, and evaluating designated doctors; b. whether the DWC requires additional authority to regulate designated doctors or entities providing services for designated doctors; and c. any unique issues with "traveling" designated doctors.
8.	Examine the adequacy of benefits for injured employees in the Texas workers' compensation system who qualify for Lifetime Income Benefits, and for the beneficiaries of employees who receive Death Benefits. In particular, examine the application of benefit caps for those benefit types and the termination of Death Benefits to surviving spouses on remarriage.
9.	Analyze recent data attributing the decline in domestic manufacturing to a consistent trade deficit caused by steady increases in net imports. Study how expanding trade and investing in manufacturing communities’ partnerships can grow the state's skilled workforce and production as well as increase net exports and develop a trade balance. (Joint charge with the House Committee on International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs)
10.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Business and Industry
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, March 23, 2016 (Lawsuits, dispute resolution, oversight, insurance purchases by state agencies)
Library Call Number:
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View document [257 pages  File size: 17,549 kb]
Committee:	House Government Reform
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Computers and government | Databases | Inspectors general | Occupational licenses | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | School buildings | State government reorganization | State purchasing |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 G747r
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [95 pages  File size: 12,260 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Research, investigate, and make recommendations on how electronic documents can be created, maintained, exchanged, and preserved by the state in a manner that encourages appropriate government control, access, choice, interoperability, and vendor neutrality. The committee shall consider, but not be limited to, public access to information, expected storage life of electronic documents, costs of implementation, and savings.
2.	Research, investigate, and make recommendations regarding litigation brought by school districts receiving state funds under Chapter 46, Education Code, for defective construction of instructional facilities and the state's interest in ensuring the use of such funds for the repair or reconstruction of defective facilities or the return of state funds.
3.	Review authorized offices of inspector generals and assess the benefit of having a statewide office of inspector general for all executive branch agencies.
4.	Study and review current laws regarding licensing and regulation of professionals, as well as current laws regarding practice acts, and make recommendations on creating limitations and streamlining of licensure requirements, such as the public policy implications of decriminalization of license-related violations.
5.	Review a wide variety of state agencies with an eye to streamlining state government. Recommend the amendment or repeal of unnecessary statutory requirements, the deregulation of certain industries if in the public interest, and ways to implement agency efficiency recommendations identified by the Legislative Budget Board, the State Auditor's Office, and the Sunset Advisory Commission.
6.	Evaluate and make recommendations, if necessary, regarding state contracts with pharmacy benefit managers. Assess the feasibility of combining prescription drug programs of state health insurance programs. All recommendations should take into consideration any budgetary impacts. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Pensions and Investments.)
7.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	House Pensions and Investments
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Employees Retirement System of Texas | Houston Municipal Employees Pension System | Peace officers | Pension liabilities | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | Public retirement systems | Retire/Rehire | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Texas Municipal Retirement System |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 P387
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [64 pages  File size: 12,741 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Evaluate the possibility of requiring the state and employee contribution rate to meet the annually required contribution for the statewide retirement funds each biennium in order to prevent unfunded liabilities.
2.	Explore options for funding other post-employment benefits, and examine strategies employed by other governmental entities in addressing these obligations.
3.	Study the impact of actuaries on public pension plans, and evaluate the need for legislation to ensure appropriate actuarial assumptions, actuarial audits or regulation of actuaries contracting with state pension plans.
4.	Analyze the impact of allowing a retiree to return to work in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
5.	Assess the representational proportion of each of the stakeholder groups, eligibility requirements, qualifications, and selection and election procedures of the board of trustees of the retirement systems.
6.	Examine eligibility criteria for membership and possible inclusion of additional employees in the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officers Supplemental Retirement Fund (LECOSRF). Evaluate the effect of diversion of funds from the auto registration fee on the unfunded liability of the LECOSRF, and explore the possibility of creating a similar supplemental retirement program as part of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for those members performing law enforcement duties.
7.	Evaluate and make recommendations, if necessary, regarding state contracts with pharmacy benefit managers. Assess the feasibility of combining prescription drug programs of state health insurance programs. All recommendations should take into consideration any budgetary impacts. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Government Reform.)
8.	Examine the operation of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System, its Board of Trustees and staff. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Urban Affairs.)
9.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Health and Human Services
Title:	Interim Report - Joint with Committee on State Affairs
Library Catalog Title:	Joint interim report to the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	Competency to stand trial | Criminally insane | End of life issues | Long-term care | Long-term care insurance | Medicaid | Medical savings accounts | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | Reverse mortgages | State hospitals |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 H349sa
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [82 pages  File size: 3,061 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine and make recommendations, if necessary, regarding the state's role in regulating pharmacy benefit managers in the interest of consumer protection. Examine alternative methods of dispensing maintenance drugs, including mail service and retail pharmacies, and provide an analysis of the state's role in protecting consumers. Joint Charge with State Affairs Committee.
2.	Study how to reduce dependence on Medicaid for the provision of long term care by increasing use of long-term care insurance and health savings accounts. Include a study of options for increasing the use of advance planning tools, such as health care power of attorney and living wills, to ensure more effective decision-making regarding critical end-of-life and other health care decisions. Finally, study the feasibility of implementing innovative models of nursing facility services that encourage autonomy, choice and dignity of residents. Joint Charge with State Affairs Committee.
3.	Study the current laws/policies relating to forensic patients in our State Hospitals and Community Mental Health Organizations. Include analysis of and recommendations relating to pre- and post-trial forensic patients, competency laws and procedures, current treatment policies and guidelines, cost and placement considerations for creating specialty units for forensic patients, judicial discretion and medical best practices. Joint Charge with State Affairs Committee.
Committee:	Senate State Affairs
Title:	Interim Report - Joint with Committee on Health and Human Services
Library Catalog Title:	Joint interim report to the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	Competency to stand trial | Criminally insane | End of life issues | Long-term care | Long-term care insurance | Medicaid | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Nursing homes | Prescription drug costs | State hospitals |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 H349sa
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [82 pages  File size: 3,061 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine and make recommendations, if necessary, regarding the state's role in regulating pharmacy benefit managers in the interest of consumer protection. Examine alternative methods of dispensing maintenance drugs, including mail service and retail pharmacies, and provide an analysis of the state's role in protecting consumers. Joint Charge with Health and Human Services Committee
2.	Study how to reduce dependence on Medicaid for the provision of long term care by increasing use of long-term care insurance and health savings accounts. Include a study of options for increasing the use of advance planning tools, such as health care power of attorney and living wills, to ensure more effective decision-making regarding critical end-of-life and other health care decisions. Finally, study the feasibility of implementing innovative models of nursing facility services that encourage autonomy, choice and dignity of residents. Joint Charge with Health and Human Services Committee.
3.	Study the current laws/policies relating to forensic patients in our State Hospitals and Community Mental Health Organizations. Include analysis of and recommendations relating to pre- and post-trial forensic patients, competency laws and procedures, current treatment policies and guidelines, cost and placement considerations for creating specialty units for forensic patients, judicial discretion and medical best practices. Joint Charge with Health and Human Services Committee.
Committee:	Joint Health Services, Interim
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report / Joint Legislative Interim Committee on Health Services.
Subjects:	Children's Health Insurance Program | Health and Human Services Commission, Texas | Medicaid | Medicaid application process | Medicaid eligibility | Medical reimbursements | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 h35
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [140 pages  File size: 6,984 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Monitor Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cost issues, including: a)Medicaid cost containment activities, including implementation of Article II Special Provisions contained in Sec. 33 of SB 1, 77th R.S.; b)Implementation of SB 43, 77th R.S., regarding Medicaid simplification; c)Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) reorganization of Medicaid and CHIP administration; d)CHIP and Medicaid acute health reimbursement rates, including implementation of legislation passed by the 77th Legislature, SB 1053, 77th R.S., SB 1299, 77th R.S., and SB 1, 77th R.S., HHSC, Sec. 54 and Art. II Special Provisions, Secs. 29 and 30; e)Medicaid and CHIP caseload and cost projections; f)federal actions affecting Medicaid and CHIP costs; and g)any other items deemed pertinent by the Joint Committee.
2.	Study the cost effectiveness of twelve month continuous eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP and make recommendations to the 78th Legislature.
3.	Monitor the implementation legislation passed by the 77th Legislature regarding interagency bulk purchasing of pharmaceuticals, HB 915, 77th R.S., and SB 1, 77th R.S., Art. IX, Sec. 6.47.
Committee:	House Public Health
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Public Health, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2002 : a report to the House of Representatives, 78th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Alternative medicine | Biological weapons | Drug rehabilitation programs | Health, Texas Department of | Homeland security | Hospital districts | Immunizations | Medical licensing | Medical reimbursements | Mental health services | Prescription drug costs | Public health | Substance abuse | Terrorism | Undocumented immigrants |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 h349h
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [119 pages  File size: 429 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Assess the state of the healthcare infrastructure in Texas in light of hospital closures, rising costs, constrained reimbursement rates, workforce issues and any other pertinent factors. Consider differences in regions or localities that might adversely affect healthcare delivery to specific groups of Texans.
2.	Conduct an extensive review of access to programs and treatment options for mental illness and substance abuse. Identify barriers to access and any gaps in existing programs.
3.	Examine the costs and benefits of allowing state and local governments to provide health and preventive care without regard to the immigration status of the patient.
4.	Gather information about the production, distribution, use and disposal of biological agents that could be used in terrorist actions, as well as vaccines that would be used to respond to biological attacks. Review hospital plans for responding to large-scale emergencies. Review government regulations and business practices to determine whether legislation is needed to protect life and property and to detect, interdict and respond to acts of terrorism.
5.	Study the use of complementary and alternative medicines in Texas. Is there a need for the state to develop a regulatory framework for their use?
6.	Assess the procedures of health-related licensing agencies regarding the intake of complaints, investigation procedures and timetables, and enforcement of laws and rules. Comment on any factors involving the use or abuse of patient information by healthcare agencies or institutions.
7.	Actively monitor agencies and programs under the committee's oversight jurisdiction. Pay particular attention to implementation of recommendations to restructure the Department of Health including the childhood immunization program; and implementation of pharmaceutical legislation passed by the 77th Legislature.
Committee:	House Public Health
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Public Health, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2000 : a report to the House of Representatives, 77th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Children's health insurance | Children's Health Insurance Program | e-commerce | Emergency medical services | Health care | Hospitals | Indigent health care | Internet | Managed care | Medicaid | Nonprofit hospitals | Pharmaceutical industry | Pharmacists | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | Public health | State government contracts | Telemedicine | Trauma centers |
Library Call Number:	L1836.76 h349h
Session:	76th R.S. (1999)
Online version:	View report [275 pages  File size: 10,000 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the delivery of health care in Texas. The review should identify pharmaceutical cost-drivers and opportunities to reduce costs, assess the role of pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies, and address patient-specific issues, as well as other issues identified by the committee.
2.	Review issues related to the increased use of new technologies in the delivery of health care. The review should identify opportunities and risks associated with the sale of medical devices and drugs over the Internet, the feasibility of expanding telemedicine to improve care in underserved areas, and regulatory and privacy issues presented by these new technologies.
3.	Evaluate the role and potential of disease management in public health programs that serve chronically ill populations.
4.	Study issues arising from hospital system sales, conversions, partnerships and mergers, including the impact on health care in medically underserved and rural communities and on the level of charity care provided.
5.	Examine the requirements imposed on emergency medical services providers in rural areas. Determine whether individual requirements encourage or hinder the provision of services.
6.	Conduct active oversight of the agencies under the committee's jurisdiction, including the Children's Health Insurance Program, the restructuring of health and humans service agencies under HB 2641, 76th R.S., and the Medicaid managed care program.
Committee:	House Public Health
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 72nd Texas Legislature / Committee on Public Health.
Subjects:	At-risk youth | Health maintenance organizations | Medical research | Pharmaceutical industry | Pharmacists | Prescription drug costs | Prescription drugs | Substance abuse | Texas Pharmacy Act | Underage drinking |
Library Call Number:	L1836.71 h349
Session:	71st R.S. (1989)
Online version:	View report [39 pages  File size: 1,612 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	To study substance abuse problems of Texas youth.
2.	To study the benefits and public necessity of licensing and regulating medical laboratories in Texas, including the relative merits of state regulation versus federal regulation.
3.	To study prescription drug programs provided under health insurance policies or contracts and employee benefit plans.

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