MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PROMPT PAYMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Wednesday, November 7, 2001
9:30 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Prompt
Payment of Health Care Providers was held on Wednesday,
November 7, 2001, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson Senator John Carona
Senator Troy Fraser Senator Mario Gallegos,
Jr.
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and the
following business was transacted.
The Chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of
the meeting was to consider the organization and rules for the
Senate Special Committee on Prompt Payment of Health Care
Providers and to receive briefings regarding the interim charge
issued by Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff.
The Chair introduced the Committee staff, namely Steve Roddy,
Committee Director, and Cheri Huddleston, Committee Clerk. The
Chair also introduced the Lieutenant Governor and Governor
Perry, and invited Committee members to introduce their staff.
Senator Zaffirini introduced her staff and gave opening remarks.
The Chair called invited panelists from the Texas Department of
Insurance to give an overview of state law, agency rules, and
agency activities and programs related to prompt payment of
health care claims.
At 9:42 a.m., a quorum was established.
The Chair laid out the interim rules for the Committee and
called for comments. There being none, Senator Zaffirini moved
that the Committee rules be adopted. Without objection, the
rules were adopted by unanimous consent.
The following persons provided oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee:
Jose Montemayor, Commissioner, representing the Texas
Department of Insurance.
Kim Stokes, Senior Associate Commissioner for Life, Health,
& Licensing, representing the Texas Department of
Insurance.
Audrey Selden, Senior Associate Commissioner for Consumer
Protection, representing the Texas Department of Insurance.
There being no further questions for these witnesses, the Chair
called invited panelists from the Office of the Attorney General
to brief the Committee members on the investigation of HMO
payment practices and ERISA.
The following persons provided oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee:
David Mattax, Division Chief, Financial Litigation,
representing the Office of the Attorney General.
Edna Ramon Butts, Special Assistant Attorney General,
representing the Office of the Attorney General.
There being no further questions for these witnesses, the Chair
called the invited witness from the Health and Human Services
Commission to present an overview of prompt payment issues in
relation to the state Medicaid program.
The following person provided oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, representing the Health and
Human Services Commission.
There being no further questions for this witness, the Chair
discussed the Committee schedule, stating that a date for the
next hearing had not been determined and that the Committee
staff will coordinate with each office to discuss the location
and time for the next hearing.
There being no further business, at 12:05 p.m., the Chair
announced that the Committee would stand recessed, subject to
the call of the Chair.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk