By: Nelson S.B. No. 2128 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the Health and Human Services Commission's procurement and oversight of managed care organization contracts serving individuals in Texas Medicaid with serious mental illness. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 533.0071, Texas Government Code, is amended by adding new subsection "(6)" to read as follows: " (6) To achieve greater administrative efficiency and the greatest value for the state, the Health and Human Services Commission shall evaluate and strengthen its current procurement process for managed care. This may include simultaneously procuring multiple managed care products. The agency shall develop metrics to better hold managed care companies accountable for care of enrollees with serious mental illness, which may include development and procurement of a separate managed care program in at least one service area of the state aimed at serving individuals with serious mental illness, as defined by Section 1355.001, Texas Insurance Code. The Health and Human Services Commission shall measure performance of all managed care programs per Government Code, 536.003 and by using other measures that support a continuous quality improvement process and establish accountability at the managed care organization and provider level for performance improvement and cost control. Measures should include national industry standard performance measures for integrated care, jail and emergency department diversion, post-release linkage to care, homelessness reduction, supportive housing, and medication adherence. Metrics also must demonstrate improved outcomes and integration of care and enhanced cost control against an established baseline measurement for the target population of individuals with serious mental illness. If necessary, the Health and Human Services Commission may extend existing managed care contracts to establish a uniform expiration date, provided it does so in a manner consistent with Texas Government Code section 2155.144(c)." SECTION 2. 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, 2017.