MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

9:00 a.m.

Senate Chamber

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs was held on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Duncan Senator Troy Fraser Senator Mike Jackson Senator Leticia Van de Putte		Senator Tommy Williams Senator John Carona Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Chris Harris Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The Committee heard invited and public testimony regarding the Interim Charge No. 5: Review and make recommendations for requiring insurance coverage of routine medical care for patients with a life-threatening disease or condition who have elected to participate in a clinical trial.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list. 

 

The Committee also heard invited and public testimony regarding Interim Charge No. 1: Study the factors that impact the transparency and efficiency of the health insurance market.  Make recommendations to result in the use of best practices, lower health care costs, and better health outcomes, including the following:  Improve transparency with respect to the marketing of prescription drugs; Study factors contributing to the increasing cost of healthcare; Study insurer and health maintenance organization use of tiers, ratings, or classifications to differentiate among credentialed physicians already admitted to the insurer or HMO panel of preferred providers or network; Examine methods to remediate incorrect tiering, ratings, or classifications; and Examine how physicians are notified of the standards against which they will be compared and whether they are notified of the standards prior to the evaluation period. Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 1:34 p.m. Senator Duncan moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Robert Duncan, Chair

 

 

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Anna Beth White, Clerk