RSEA tracks bills affecting retirees. These are the bills that affected ERS and our membership during the 87th Legislative Session.
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Bill Number |
Bill title and information (Italics provide brief description) |
Effective Date |
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Relating to coverage for mammography under certain health benefit plans.
This law requires Group Benefits Program health plans to cover diagnostic mammograms at the same benefit level as screening mammograms. |
Effective 9/1/19 |
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Relating to long-term care insurance for state employees.
This change in policy authorizes ERS to offer individual long-term care (LTC) insurance, in addition to group LTC insurance. |
Effective 9/1/19 |
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Relating to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing by certain out-of-network providers.
This law prohibits certain out-of-network facilities and providers from “balance billing” insurance plan participants for services provided in an emergency or at an in-network facility. Under current law, health plan members can pursue mediation through the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) when they are balance billed above a certain amount (currently $500). The new law will take the member out of the process. In a billing dispute, the out-of-network provider and/or health plan can request mediation/ arbitration with each other. |
Effective 9/1/19 |
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Relating to requiring a public retirement system to adopt a written funding policy.
This law requires all public retirement systems in Texas to adopt a pension funding policy. |
Effective 9/1/19 |