(a) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 2.287(15), eff. April 2, 2015.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section and notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide Medicaid acute care services through the most cost-effective model of Medicaid capitated managed care as determined by the commission. The commission shall require mandatory participation in a Medicaid capitated managed care program for all persons eligible for Medicaid acute care benefits, but may implement alternative models or arrangements, including a traditional fee-for-service arrangement, if the commission determines the alternative would be more cost-effective or efficient.

(c) In determining whether a model or arrangement described by Subsection (b) is more cost-effective, the executive commissioner must consider:
(1) the scope, duration, and types of health benefits or services to be provided in a certain part of this state or to a certain population of recipients;
(2) administrative costs necessary to meet federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements;
(3) the anticipated effect of market competition associated with the configuration of Medicaid service delivery models determined by the commission; and
(4) the gain or loss to this state of a tax collected under Chapter 222, Insurance Code.
(d) If the commission determines that it is not more cost-effective to use a Medicaid managed care model to provide certain types of Medicaid acute care in a certain area or to certain recipients as prescribed by this section, the commission shall provide Medicaid acute care through a traditional fee-for-service arrangement.
(e) The commission shall determine the most cost-effective alignment of managed care service delivery areas. The executive commissioner may consider the number of lives impacted, the usual source of health care services for residents in an area, and other factors that impact the delivery of health care services in the area.
(f) Expired.
(g) Expired.
(h) If the commission determines that it is feasible, the commission may, notwithstanding any other law, implement an automatic enrollment process under which applicants determined eligible for Medicaid benefits are automatically enrolled in a Medicaid managed care plan chosen by the applicant. The commission may elect to implement the automatic enrollment process as to certain populations of recipients.
(i) Subject to § 534.152, the commission shall:
(1) implement the most cost-effective option for the delivery of basic attendant and habilitation services for individuals with disabilities under the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program that maximizes federal funding for the delivery of services for that program and other similar programs; and
(2) provide voluntary training to individuals receiving services under the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program or their legally authorized representatives regarding how to select, manage, and dismiss personal attendants providing basic attendant and habilitation services under the program.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025