Category Policy 262 articles to read

HHS Transition Legislative Oversight Committee
June 7, 2018
Policy

The Transition Legislative Oversight Committee met on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:00am to hear invited testimony only. A quorum was present. The Committee was established in 2015 by the…
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House Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse: Parts I and II
June 5, 2018
Policy

Meeting Summary. The Select Committee met to consider testimony on the following interim charge: Monitor and evaluate the implementation of legislation passed by the 85th Legislature regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program. In addition, review the prescribing of addictive drugs by physicians and other health care providers within various geographic regions of this state. Determine the role of health care professionals in preventing overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions. Provide recommendations that will improve efforts to prevent overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions.
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House Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse
June 1, 2018
Policy

Meeting Summary. The Select Committee met to consider testimony on the following interim charge: Monitor and evaluate the implementation of legislation passed by the 85th Legislature regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program. In addition, review the prescribing of addictive drugs by physicians and other health care providers within various geographic regions of this state. Determine the role of health care professionals in preventing overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions. Provide recommendations that will improve efforts to prevent overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions.
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House Committee on Human Services
May 24, 2018
Policy

Meeting Summary. The committee met on May 9th to consider the remainder of Interim Charge 2, a review of managed care in Texas. In particular, the committee focused on the following:…
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House Committee on Human Services
April 27, 2018
Policy

Meeting Summary. The committee met to consider Interim Charge 2, a review of managed care in Texas. In particular, the committee focused on the following: Review the history of Medicaid Managed…
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House Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse: Charges 1 and 2 and Foster Care Impact
April 24, 2018
Policy

Meeting Summary. The Select Committee met to consider invited testimony only on the following interim charges: Continuation of Charge 1: Study the prevalence and impact of substance use and substance use disorders in Texas, including co-occurring mental illness. Study the prevalence and impact of opioids and synthetic drugs in Texas. Review the history of overdoses and deaths due to overdoses. Also review other health-related impacts due to substance abuse. Identify substances that are contributing to overdoses, related deaths and health impacts, and compare the data to other states. During the review, identify effective and efficient prevention and treatment responses by health care systems, including hospital districts and coordination across state and local governments. Recommend solutions to prevent overdoses and related health impacts and deaths in Texas.
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Texas House of Representatives Select Committee on Opioids & Substance Abuse: Part I
March 29, 2018
Policy

The Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse met to consider Charge #1:

Study the prevalence and impact of substance use and substance use disorders in Texas, including co-occurring mental illness. Invited testimony only. Study the prevalence and impact of opioids and synthetic drugs in Texas. Review the history of overdoses and deaths due to overdoses. Also review other health-related impacts due to substance abuse. Identify substances that are contributing to overdoses, related deaths and health impacts, and compare the data to other states. During the review, identify effective and efficient prevention and treatment responses by health care systems, including hospital districts and coordination across state and local governments. Recommend solutions to prevent overdoses and related health impacts and deaths in Texas. (Invited testimony only.)
 

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Senate Health and Human Services: Part III
March 26, 2018
Policy

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met to address the following charges: Medicaid Managed Care Quality and Compliance:

  • Review the Health and Human Services Commission's efforts to improve quality and efficiency in the Medicaid program, including pay-for-quality initiatives in Medicaid managed care. Compare alternative payment models and value-based payment arrangements with providers in Medicaid managed care, the Employees Retirement System, and the Teacher Retirement System, and identify areas for cross-collaboration and coordination among these entities.
  • Evaluate the commission's efforts to ensure Medicaid managed care organizations' compliance with contractual obligations and the use of incentives and sanctions to enforce compliance. Assess the commission's progress in implementing competitive bidding practices for Medicaid managed care contracts and other initiatives to ensure the best value for taxpayer dollars used in Medicaid managed care contracts.

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Senate Health and Human Services: Part II
March 22, 2018
Policy

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met to address the following charges: Medicaid Managed Care Quality and Compliance:

  • Review the Health and Human Services Commission's efforts to improve quality and efficiency in the Medicaid program, including pay-for-quality initiatives in Medicaid managed care. Compare alternative payment models and value-based payment arrangements with providers in Medicaid managed care, the Employees Retirement System, and the Teacher Retirement System, and identify areas for cross-collaboration and coordination among these entities.
  • Evaluate the commission's efforts to ensure Medicaid managed care organizations' compliance with contractual obligations and the use of incentives and sanctions to enforce compliance. Assess the commission's progress in implementing competitive bidding practices for Medicaid managed care contracts and other initiatives to ensure the best value for taxpayer dollars used in Medicaid managed care contracts.
Health Care Cost Transparency:
  • Study efforts by the Department of State Health Services and the Texas Department of Insurance to increase health care cost transparency, including a review of the Texas Health Care Information Collection (THCIC) system, and the Consumer Guide to Healthcare. Recommend ways to make provider and facility fees more accessible to consumers to improve health care cost transparency, increase quality of care, and create a more informed health care consumer base.

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