Texas Political Lobbyist Update on the 83rd Legislative Session
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/
Senate Bill No. 8 is hoping to help lessen loopholes and abuse of the state’s Medicaid program. Currently, there are some serious problems with fraud and waste within the system. The tricky and complicated part of this is figuring out where the problems are and how to address them. The goal of Senate Bill No. 8 is to prevent fraud and to ensure that those receiving Medicaid benefits truly need them. The bill amends the present Government Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to create a data analysis system.
This would help HHSC to detect positive and negative trends within their programs. The bill would require quarterly update reports, ensuring that they are kept in check and progress is present. The bill would prohibit Medicaid or CHIP providers from engaging in marketing activity, or any type of unsolicited contact with clients. Some communication is allowed, through specific regulations. The main point, is that this contact is not telemarketing or spam. The bill allows the HHSC to allow or deny a provider’s request for authorization to engage in proposed market activity. The bill was passed on the third reading. It will be enacted on September 1st of 2013.