Subscribe to receive our Floor Reports covering all the action on the Texas House and Senate floor!
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The legislation would add subchapter to Chapter 1369 of the Insurance Code by requiring a health benefit plan to provide coverage for abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic drugs. The subchapter would apply to a small employer health benefit plan and consumer choice of benefits plan under Chapter 1501 and 1507, respectively. The bill would exempt specific health benefit plans.
The bill states that a qualified health plan as defined by federal regulations, to the extent that providing coverage for abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic drugs would otherwise require the state to make a payment under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would not be required to provide a benefit for the drugs that exceeds the specified essential health benefits required under that act.
This legislation represents yet another
example of the government interfering with private businesses. The high cost of
health care and health insurance is partly the result of government
interference in the form of mandates. Every time the government tinkers with the
system to take choices away from providers and patients, costs tend to rise.
Creating
new state mandates on private enterprise abridges our limited government and
free market principles. Therefore, we oppose HB 2505.
It
is worth noting that Texas has one of the highest rates of insurance mandates
of all the states.