By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 937
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a pilot program for providing services to certain women
  and children under the Medicaid medical transportation program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.024141 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.024141.  PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING MEDICAL
  TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOTHERS.
  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Medicaid managed care organization" means a
  managed care organization as defined by Section 533.001 that
  contracts with the commission under Chapter 533 to provide health
  care services to Medicaid recipients.
               (2)  "Medical transportation program" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 531.02414.
         (b)  The commission, in collaboration with the Maternal
  Mortality and Morbidity Task Force established under Chapter 34,
  Health and Safety Code, shall develop and, not later than September
  1, 2020, implement a pilot program in at least one health care
  service region, as defined by Section 533.001, that allows for a
  Medicaid managed care organization that participates in the pilot
  program to arrange for and provide medical transportation program
  services to:
               (1)  a woman who is enrolled in the STAR Medicaid
  managed care program during the woman’s pregnancy and after she
  delivers; and
               (2)  the child of a woman described by Subdivision (1)
  who accompanies the woman.
         (c)  A Medicaid managed care organization that participates
  in the pilot program may arrange for and provide the medical
  transportation program services described by Subsection (b) only if
  the provision of the services does not result in additional costs to
  Medicaid or the commission.
         (d)  In developing the pilot program, the commission shall
  ensure that a Medicaid managed care organization participating in
  the pilot program provides medical transportation services in a
  safe and efficient manner.
         (e)  Not later than December 1, 2020, the commission shall
  report to the legislature on the implementation of the pilot
  program.
         (f)  The commission shall evaluate the results of the pilot
  program and determine whether the program:
               (1)  is cost-effective;
               (2)  improves the efficiency and quality of services
  provided under the medical transportation program; and
               (3)  is effective in:
                     (A)  increasing access to prenatal and postpartum
  health care services;
                     (B)  reducing pregnancy-related complications;
  and
                     (C)  decreasing the rate of missed appointments
  for covered health care services by women enrolled in the STAR
  Medicaid managed care program.
         (g)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall
  submit a report to the legislature on the results of the pilot
  program. The commission shall include in the report a
  recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should
  continue, be expanded, or terminate.
         (h)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement
  this section.
         (i)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.