The bill proposes the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program under a new Subchapter J in Chapter 38 of the Insurance Code. This program, managed by the Center for Health Care Data at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, will conduct analyses of legislative documents that impose new mandates on health benefit plan issuers or administrators. The program will assess the potential impacts of such legislation on health coverage costs, administrative expenses, and the overall use of health care services. It will also provide a report on its findings within specified timeframes after receiving requests for analysis.

To fund the program, the bill authorizes the comptroller to assess an annual fee on health benefit plan issuers, excluding those operating solely as Medicaid managed care organizations. The fee will be adjusted biennially to account for implementation costs and any deficits incurred. Additionally, the bill outlines a process for the commissioner to issue data calls for estimates of administrative expenses related to specific legislation analyzed by the program. The Center is required to develop a cost estimate for the program's implementation and establish the program by January 1, 2026. The bill will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

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