HBA-DMH H.B. 703 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 703
By: Maxey
Public Health
2/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Medicaid Vendor Drug Program imposes a three prescription
per month limit (limit) on adults eligible for the Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families program and aged, blind or disabled adult clients. The Texas
Department of Health, in its budget request, anticipates that removing the
limit for all Medicaid recipients will result in the avoidance of more
expensive emergency room, institutional, and nursing home costs.  House
Bill 703 removes the limit for all Medicaid clients, and allows clients
access to all drugs needed and prescribed by their physicians. 

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 703 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC), in its rules and standards governing the
vendor drug program, from limiting benefits for the number of medications
prescribed to a recipient of prescription drug benefits under the medical
assistance program. 

The bill amends the Government Code to remove the limitation on the number
of medications for which HHSC performs a complete analysis of the use of
prescription medications, relating to Medicaid clients for whom more than
three medications have been prescribed and the medical effect denial of
medicaid coverage for more than three medications has had on Medicaid
clients. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.