Health Care

UPDATE: HB 1951 Passed on Third Reading on Wednesday, May 11th. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration in the Committe on Government Organization.

House lawmakers voted  to continue the duties and operations of the Texas Department of Insurance, passing HB 1951 (the Sunset bill for the Texas Department of Insurance) out of the House. A number of amendments to the bill sought to strengthen various aspects of the agency, including Health Insurance.

The Texas Department of Insurance Sunset was originally scheduled for the 81st Legislative Session in 2009. Texas Impact then had three key recommendations for the agency: 

• Strengthen TDI’s rate oversight authority,
• prioritize consumer protections by redrafting the mission statement of TDI and strengthening the role of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC), and
• focus on health insurance solutions through the development of a health innovations center within TDI.

A number of advocates have worked hard this session to propose legislation that would strengthen TDI's oversight authority and allow the agency to take appropriate steps to implement provisions of Federal Health Reform—the Affordable Care Act.

Representative Zerwas included an amendment that would authorize some basic health insurance exchange functions within TDI—which might allow the agency the authority it needs to take Federal Health Reform implemenation.

An amendment added by Representative McClendon would implement the health innovations program within TDI, also giving the Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program an option to continue to seek funding for the federally-funded Texas CHAP program.

Texas Department of Insurance launched its Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program in October 2010. The program, Texas CHAP, is funded through a federal Affordable Care Act grant of $2.7 million, that allows the agency to serve consumers by protecting their rights and helping them receive their deserved benefits.

Visit the Texas Department of Insurance website, http://www.tdi.state.tx.us.

Texas Department of Insurance launched its Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program in October 2010. The program, Texas CHAP, is funded through a federal Affordable Care Act grant of $2.7 million, that allows the agency to serve consumers by protecting their rights and helping them receive their deserved benefits.

With the funds, the agency has:

• Launched a statewide media/educational program, using multilingual materials and presentations with a focus on Texas counties with the highest percentage of uninsured residents,
• Offered a dedicated toll-free line that will direct consumers to specialists for direct assistance,
• Created “toolkits” to help consumers and small businesses enroll in health coverage through public programs and the private insurance industry, and also
• Provided individual assistance with the filing of complaints, appeals, and grievances.

Texas Impact has had the privilege of sitting on a Texas CHAP Consumer Focus Group for several months, and applauds the efforts and success of the program.

Texas CHAP's most recent newsletter can be found here.  

For more infornation about the agency, click here.