Bill Text: TX SB1415 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas regarding the use of health reimbursement accounts in conjunction with Medicare plans available through the individual marketplace to provide health and pharmacy benefit coverage for certain retired school employees.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-18 - Referred to Finance [SB1415 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1415-Introduced.html

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87R4390 MEW-F
By: Creighton S.B. No. 1415

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
regarding the use of health reimbursement accounts in conjunction
with Medicare plans available through the individual marketplace to
provide health and pharmacy benefit coverage for certain retired
school employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) The Teacher Retirement System of
Texas shall conduct a study to evaluate the use of health
reimbursement accounts in conjunction with Medicare plans
available through the individual marketplace as a means to provide
health and pharmacy benefit coverage under Chapter 1575, Insurance
Code, for Medicare-eligible retired school employees and their
spouses.
(b) The evaluation must consider:
(1) using claims experience and premium data from the
most recent two years, the affordability and availability of
Medicare plans available through the individual marketplace to
Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses compared to health
benefit plans available to those retirees and their spouses under
Chapter 1575, Insurance Code;
(2) provider availability under Medicare plans
available through the individual marketplace; and
(3) any other items the Teacher Retirement System of
Texas determines are relevant to the system's long-term ability to
provide health and pharmacy benefits to Medicare-eligible retirees
and their spouses considering the demographic, geographic, and
socioeconomic characteristics of the Medicare-eligible retirees
and spouses participating in the group program under Chapter 1575,
Insurance Code.
(c) In conducting the study under this section, the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas may contract or collaborate with
entities having industry-leading expertise and experience in the
individual marketplace.
SECTION 2. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2021,
the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall submit to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and Legislative Budget Board a written report of
the study conducted under Section 1 of this Act. The report must
include the findings and legislative recommendations of the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas.
(b) If the report finds that using health reimbursement
accounts in conjunction with Medicare plans available through the
individual marketplace could achieve cost savings for the state and
for Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses participating in
the group program under Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, while
providing health and pharmacy benefit coverage substantially
equivalent to the coverage provided under the group program, the
Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall, to the extent possible,
begin implementing any recommendations from the report that the
system may implement without legislative action.
SECTION 3. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 1,
2023.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.