HBA-MSH H.B. 1434 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1434
By: Capelo
Public Health
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to the American Lung Association of Texas, more than one million
Texans suffer from asthma, and one-third of them are children.  Asthma is
the leading cause of chronic illness and school absenteeism in children and
teens.  The Texas Medicaid program provided treatment for more than 123,000
asthma patients at a total cost of $41.6 million in fiscal year 1999.
Asthma treatment and management programs have the potential to improve
patient care and reduce the costs associated with asthma by reducing
asthmarelated emergency room visits.  House Bill 1434 requires the Health
and Human Services Commission to create a disease management pilot program
for children's asthma. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services
Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 531.021912, Government Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1434 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human
Services Commission (HHSC) to develop by rule a Medicaid disease management
pilot program (program) for children's asthma for implementation in
counties selected by the Texas Department of Heath with high incidence of
children's asthma and a high rate of hospital emergency room care for the
treatment of  children's asthma.  The bill requires the program to 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.  The program is also required
to provide health care provider education to ensure the appropriate use of
specialized asthma treatments.  The bill sets forth requirements for the
development, administration, and implementation of the program.  The bill
requires HHSC to report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives on the effectiveness of the program not later than
December 1, 2004. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.