COMMITTEE: Insurance
TIME & DATE: 9:00 AM,
Thursday, September 5, 2024
PLACE: E2.014
CHAIR: Rep. Tom Oliverson
The Committee on Insurance will meet for a public hearing
to hear from invited testimony only on the following subjects:
Examine and evaluate the effects of current regulations
on the contractual relationships between pharmacists, pharmacies, health benefit
plan issuers, and pharmacy benefit managers(PBMs). Assess the effectiveness
of existing laws in promoting transparency and fairness in drug pricing and
out-of-pocket expenses for consumers. Study how PBM rebates function within
the prescription drug market. Study programs which aim to increase
transparency,improve quality of care for patients, and support public policy
decisions. Analyze the effects of prohibiting certain contractual provisions
that limit the ability of insurers to guide patients toward specific
healthcare providers.
Examine the impact of current economic challenges on the
escalating cost of health insurance premiums and options available to Texans
in the small business and individual health insurance markets. Investigate
solutions including the availability of a small business health options
program and ways Texas can better manage and control administration of and
the rising costs in our health insurance market.
Review the current practices and impacts of prior
authorization in the healthcare system in Texas.
Review the impact of healthcare mandates on healthcare
providers, insurers, and patients.
Review the current state of network adequacy in Texas,
focusing on the availability and accessibility of healthcare providers within
health insurance networks.
Review the use of current practices and policies
regarding the imposition of hospital facility fees.
Review the use of artificial intelligence(AI) in the
healthcare and health insurance industry. Assess current applications of AI
in clinical settings and for tasks such as claims processing, fraud
detection, and for personalized insurance plans. Study how AI could improve
existing practices relating to risk assessment, underwriting, and customer
service. Study ethical and legal concerns associated with AI, including data
privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency. Review the regulatory and
oversight mechanisms needed to ensure responsible use of AI in the healthcare
and health insurance industry.
Electronic public comments may be submitted for:
Transparency in healthcare and
health insurance
State-based health exchange
Prior authorization in Texas
Healthcare mandate review
State of network adequacy in
Texas
Hospital facility fees
AI in healthcare insurance
industry
For those persons who will be testifying, information for
in-person witness registration, can be found here: https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx
A live video broadcast of this hearing will be available
here: https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/
Instructions related to public access to the meeting
location are available here: https://house.texas.gov/committees/public-access-house-committee-meetings/
Texas residents who wish to electronically submit
comments related to agenda items on this notice without testifying in person
can do so until the hearing is adjourned by visiting: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c320
NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS
Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting
and who may need assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, are
requested to contact Stacey Nicchio at (512) 463-0850, 72 hours prior to the
meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.