Bill Text: TX HB3948 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to coverage for childhood screening, diagnosis, and treatment for dyslexia under certain health benefit plans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-20 - Referred to Insurance [HB3948 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3948-Introduced.html
88R13933 RDS-D | ||
By: Bernal | H.B. No. 3948 |
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relating to coverage for childhood screening, diagnosis, and | ||
treatment for dyslexia under certain health benefit plans. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter G to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER G. CHILDHOOD SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT FOR | ||
DYSLEXIA | ||
Sec. 1367.301. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This | ||
subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides | ||
benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a | ||
health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, | ||
group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance | ||
agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or | ||
group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is | ||
offered by: | ||
(1) an insurance company; | ||
(2) a group hospital service corporation operating | ||
under Chapter 842; | ||
(3) a health maintenance organization operating under | ||
Chapter 843; | ||
(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that | ||
holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; | ||
(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds | ||
a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; | ||
(6) a stipulated premium company operating under | ||
Chapter 884; | ||
(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under | ||
Chapter 885; | ||
(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or | ||
(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. | ||
(b) This subchapter applies to coverage under a group health | ||
benefit plan described by Subsection (a) provided to a resident of | ||
this state, regardless of whether the group policy or contract is | ||
delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed within or outside this | ||
state. | ||
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies | ||
to: | ||
(1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to | ||
Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group | ||
cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter; | ||
(2) a standard health benefit plan issued under | ||
Chapter 1507; | ||
(3) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; | ||
(4) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; | ||
(5) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; | ||
(6) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter | ||
1601; | ||
(7) group health coverage made available by a school | ||
district in accordance with Section 22.004, Education Code; | ||
(8) the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid | ||
managed care program operated under Chapter 533, Government Code; | ||
(9) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, | ||
Health and Safety Code; and | ||
(10) a regional or local health care program operated | ||
under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code. | ||
(d) This subchapter does not apply to an individual health | ||
benefit plan issued on or before March 23, 2010, that has not had | ||
any significant changes since that date that reduce benefits or | ||
increase costs to the individual. | ||
Sec. 1367.302. COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit | ||
plan must provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and | ||
treatment for dyslexia for a covered individual who is 4 years of | ||
age or older and younger than 10 years of age. | ||
(b) The coverage required under Subsection (a) must | ||
include: | ||
(1) screening for dyslexia conducted at a medical | ||
appointment using a validated tool or parental questionnaire for | ||
dyslexia; and | ||
(2) a complete evaluation upon referral by the person | ||
conducting the screening described by Subdivision (1) if the result | ||
of the screening is positive for dyslexia. | ||
SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or | ||
renewed on or after January 1, 2024. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |