A Perfectly Cromulent Blog

Goodbye SB 419, hello HB 1919

Sorry I'm here begging for phone calls again, but it seems...tell you what, I'll let this e-mail I got from Sen. Lucio's office explain:

Unfortunately, like so many other good Senate bills, SB 419 was essentially "timed out" in the House and died. However, Senator Lucio was able to amend most of the language from SB 419 onto HB 1919 by Representative Todd Smith/Senator Leticia Van de Putte. HB 1919 requires specific treatment for individuals with traumatic brain injury. The Senate also amended language relating to mental health parity to HB 1919. Tomorrow, May 25th, the House of Representatives will decide whether or not to concur with these Senate amendments to HB 1919. Texas Association of Business and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights are both working hard to convince House members to oppose these amendments, so we have to work twice as hard to ensure members support them. We know there will be a few House members who will try to oppose the Senate amendments, but as long as we have a simple majority who support them, the current bill will remain intact with the early intervention amendments. We also have confirmation that Governor Perry will support the Senate amendments to HB 1919.

The best way for you to take action is to call your own State Representative and urge them to concur with Senate amendments to HB 1919. It would be helpful to explain to them why these amendments are important in terms of supporting Texas families and saving taxpayers money. Representative Smith's (HB 1919 author) office has been very good to work with and we do not recommend calling them at this time.

The final version of HB 1919 hasn't been updated on the House web site yet, so here's the relevant wording:

Sec. 1355.015. REQUIRED COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN. (a) At a minimum, a health benefit plan must provide coverage as provided by this section to an enrollee older than two years of age and younger than six years of age who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. If an enrollee who is being treated for autism spectrum disorder becomes six years of age or older and continues to need treatment, this subsection does not preclude coverage of treatment and services described by Subsection (b).

(b) The health benefit plan must provide coverage under this section to the enrollee for all generally recognized services prescribed in relation to autism spectrum disorder by the enrollee's primary care physician in the treatment plan recommended by that physician. An individual providing treatment prescribed under this subsection must be a health care practitioner:

  (1) who is licensed, certified, or registered by an appropriate agency of this state;

  (2) whose professional credential is recognized and accepted by an appropriate agency of the United States; or

  (3) who is certified as a provider under the TRICARE military health system.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), "generally recognized services" may include services such as:

  (1) evaluation and assessment services;

  (2) applied behavior analysis;

  (3) behavior training and behavior management;

  (4) speech therapy;

  (5) occupational therapy;

  (6) physical therapy; or

  (7) medications or nutritional supplements used to address symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.

(d) Coverage under Subsection (b) may be subject to annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that are consistent with annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance required for other coverage under the health benefit plan.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, this section does not apply to a standard health benefit plan provided under Chapter 1507.

This is much better, because it looks like ABA is back on the table. Regardless of what I said last week, this really is the home stretch people. I know I've asked a lot, but please call your rep (find 'em here) and let them know you support the Senate amendments to HB 1919. Thank you.