HBA-NRS H.B. 1283 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1283 By: Wise Insurance 3/4/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Resurgent economies in the Western Hemisphere have spurred demand for American goods and services. Among those goods and services most sought after by foreign nationals are medicine and medical care. These foreign nationals include middle class Mexican residents employed along the Texas-Mexico border. Since Mexican health insurance policies do not generally cover medicine and medical services rendered in the United States, Mexican residents represent a significant, untapped market for services provided by Texas-based health insurers. A study to examine the legal and practical impediments to providing binational health benefit plan coverage will allow Texans to determine an appropriate course of action regarding the issue of binational health benefit plan coverage. House Bill 1283 authorizes the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Health to study the provision of health benefit plan coverage to individuals who are not residents of the United States. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1283 amends law to require the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to jointly study the provision of health benefit plan coverage to individuals who are not residents of the United States. The bill provides that the study must identify legal and practical impediments to providing binational health benefit plan coverage and include recommendations to facilitate provision of the coverage. The bill authorizes the commissioner of insurance and the Texas Board of Health to jointly appoint an advisory committee to assist TDI and TDH in conducting the study. The bill requires TDH and TDI to jointly issue and file a report describing the recommendations, including proposals for legislation, with the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives no later than November 1, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.