Texas
80th Legislative Session (2007)
Two key prevention and wellness bills were passed during the 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2007), including:
Senate Bill 10 (Sen. Jane Nelson)
SB 10, effective September 1, 2007, offers a number of reforms and pilots aimed at curtailing Medicaid costs, including the establishment of a pilot prevention and wellness program that can include the expansion of value-added Medicaid services including smoking cessation programs.
Learn more about smoking cessation and Medicaid.
House Bill 1297 (Rep. Dianne White Delisi)
HB 1297, effective September 1, 2007, creates a statewide wellness program to improve the health and wellness of state employees. Among the key components are educational classes that target the most costly health car claims, including smoking cessation and incentives to encourage participation in the wellness program.
Learn more about smoking cessation and state employees.
Read the Texas Public Employees Association magazine article on smoking cessation.
Previous Texas Legislative Milestones
Recent legislation enacted in Texas is helping to turn the tide on our health care system toward a system that encourages prevention and wellness. Some examples include:
Texas Medicaid Enhanced Care Program (HB 727, 78th Regular Session)
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission launched a disease management pilot program for its Medicaid population with certain chronic diseases, including asthma, diabetes, heart failure, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Texas Medicaid Enhanced Care Program provides patients with 24-hour access to a nursing hotline and personalized preventive care treatment plans. It also guarantees the state savings through an innovative disease management contracting approach. In the first year alone, HHSC anticipates saving more than $28 million.
TCEQ On-site Nurse Clinic (HB 952, 79th Regular Session)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality offers an advanced practice nurse clinic at its headquarters complex located in Austin. The new clinic, which opened in March 2006, was the result of legislation authored by State Rep. Dianne White Delisi in 2005 to test the merits of providing state employees access to an advanced practice nurse clinic at their work locations. Rep. Delisi modeled the on-site nurse clinic on a similar facility that has been operating successfully at the Texas Capitol Complex since 1992. The Capitol facility has demonstrated both convenience and cost-savings.