HBA-MPM H.B. 795 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 795 By: Najera Public Health 3/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a disparity in prescription drug benefits for Medicaid recipients. The Medicaid Vendor Program restricts adults eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and aged, blind, or disabled adults living in the community to three prescription medications per month. However, children under age 21, nursing facility residents, and recipients enrolled in managed care plans receive unlimited prescription benefits. House Bill 795 prohibits the Health and Human Services Commission from limiting the number of prescription medications a Medicaid recipient may receive to less than six per month. 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 795 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), in its rules and standards, from limiting to less than six the number of medications prescribed each month to a Medicaid recipient. The bill also amends the Government Code to require HHSC to include information in its database relating to: _Medicaid recipients for whom more than six medications, rather than three medications, have been prescribed; and _the medical effect of the denial of Medicaid coverage for more than six medications. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.