** REVISION **
SENATE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
COMMITTEE:
State Affairs
TIME & DATE:
9:30 AM, Tuesday, October 17, 2006
PLACE:
Senate Chamber
CHAIR:
Senator Robert Duncan
The State Affairs Committee and the Health & Human Services Committee
will meet to take invited and public testimony on the following:
 
Joint Interim Charge No. 1: Examine and make recommendations, if necessary,
regarding the state's role in regulating pharmacy benefit managers in the
interest of consumer protection.  Examine alternative methods of dispensing
maintenance drugs, including mail service and retail pharmacies, and
provide an analysis of the state's role in protecting consumers.
 
Joint Interim Charge No. 2:  Study how to reduce dependence on Medicaid for
the provision of long term care by increasing use of long-term care
insurance and health savings accounts.  Include a study of options for
increasing the use of advance planning tools, such as health care power of
attorney and living wills, to ensure more effective decision-making
regarding critical end-of-life and other health care decisions.  Finally,
study the feasibility of implementing innovative models of nursing facility
services that encourage autonomy, choice and dignity of residents.
 
*** The Committees will take testimony on the following charges at it
relates to pharmacy benefit managers only.
 
State Affairs Interim Charge No.1:  Study the Employess Retirement System
of Texas ("ERS") including the actuarial soundness of the ERS pension fund;
the implementation of cost-saving measures in the ERS group health
insurance plan; the suggestion of further cost-saving measures such as
the implementation of a three-tiered provider network; the effectiveness of
the third party administrator of the ERS group health insurance plan in
managing inflation; and the feasibility of consolidating the administration
of all state group health plans under a single state agency.
 
State Affairs Interim Charge No. 2:  Study the Teachers Retirement System
of Texas ("TRS") including the actuarial soundness of the TRS pension fund;
the implementation of cost-saving measures in the TRS group health
insurance plan; the suggestion of further cost-saving measures such as the
implementation of a three-tiered provider network; the implementation of
S.B. 1691, 79th Legislature; the effectiveness of the third party
administrator of the TRS group health insurance plan in managing inflation;
and the feasibility of consolidating the administration of all state group
health plans under a single state agency.
 

 
 
** See Committee Coordinator for previous versions of the schedule **