Goals for the 82nd Legislative Session
The 82nd Texas Legislature must equip the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with the authority to fulfill their responsibilities under the federal Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), and create a Texas Health Insurance Exchange.
Key steps needed are:
- Establish a Health Exchange for 2014 that makes affordable coverage available and accessible for Texans.
- Make adequate authority and resources (staff, technology, and expertise) available to all agencies involved.
- Conduct all agency activities and legislative processes—from implementation to ongoing governance—with strong consumer involvement and maximum transparency
- Eliminate conflicts of interest and revolving door policies so the Health Exchange is responsive to consumers’ and small employers’ interests.
- Create systems to help Texans purchase and enroll in private coverage that are consumer-friendly, culturally inclusive, and fully integrated with those that serve public insurance programs to eliminate delays and gaps in coverage.
