The Texas Association of Benefit Administrators gives members a personal, organized and protective TPA voice to the state and federal agencies and legislative bodies.  The Association retains the services of a professional, aggressive legal counsel who continually monitors regulatory and legislative issues.  The Association has a lobbyist, Bob Kamm, who works on behalf of the Association.  Members are kept informed on pending laws, regulations and rulings being enacted each year.  For more information about Bob, please visit his website at http://www.robertkamm.com.

If your company is a self-insured employer, fully-insured employer, third party administrator, stop-loss/excess insurance carrier or provider network, TABA's government relations services are a tremendous membership benefit.  Policy positions on specific issues are developed by the Association's Government Relations Committee.  Should you be interested in serving on the committee, please email admin@tpbaa.com or call 972/572-1551.

INDUSTRY NEWS....

A Recap of the 2007 80th Texas Legislative Session

HB 2015 Passes!  Texas Leads The Nation in Health Care Transparency.....Read TABA's PRESS RELEASE and FULL ANNOUNCEMENT.....Read the full text of HB 2015.....

Let's summarize the outcome of the BILLS that TABA has been watching during the 2007 session.....

Get the latest information by viewing our WEEKLY TRACKING REPORTon bills pending during this 80th Legislative Session.....

Read more on TABA's written summary and recommendations on the LOSS EXPERIENCE ISSUE.....

HIPAA Regulation Update.....Read LETTER by Elaine Rizza, The Rizza Group...

Contribute to TABAPAC.....and help TABA work for you in Austin....download a CONTRIBUTION FORM here.

Issues From The 2005 79th Texas Legislative Session

SB 809.....The Texas Legislature passed SB 809 and it will require the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool to adopt various cost saving measures designed to decrease the size of the Pool deficit.  Health claims of the Pool exceeded revenues by $82 million in 2004, with 19% increases expected each year.  The most controversial provision in SB 809 relates to the formula that determines who pays the deficit.  The version of the bill that finally passed retained the "covered lives" formula, but provides that ten stop loss lives count as one employee or retired employee for purposes of determining a health plan issuer's assessment.  As a result, stop loss carriers pay more than what they are currently paying toward the assessment but considerable less than the version that passed the Senate.  SB 809, as passed, also requires the Legislature to conduct an interim study to look for a better and longer-term solution to Risk Pool deficits.  TABA members were instrumental in working with Rep Gene Seaman in adding the "10-1 ratio" and requiring the Legislature to study the problem to find a new solution.

HB 888.....which would have improved current law that allows an employer to request and receive loss/claims experience from insurance carriers and HMOs, passed the House but failed to pass the Texas Senate.  The bill faced considerable opposition in the House and did not pass the House until May 9, 2005.  The Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Texas Association of Health Plans and the Texas Association of Business opposed the bill.  TAB was a surprise, but they have a fair number of HMO members who apparently controlled the issue within the association.  We conducted negotiations for about 6 weeks in the House and ended up with what was thought to be an "agreed bill" between the parties.  BCBS and TALHI stuck to that agreement.  TAB and the Health Plans, however, opposed the bill in the Senate and delayed it for about a week.  The bill finally got out of committee on May 20.  Senator Armbrister (D-Victoria), the Senate Sponsor of the bill, had more than his quota of bills to put on the Senate Calendar and, therefore, was unable to put HB 888 on the Senate floor.  An attempt was made to amend HB 888 onto another bill but the SPonsor of that bill never got recognized on the Senate floor. 

TDI Report on THIRP Expansion Options.....Read it now!  TABA's letter of response to the first draft of SB 809 with exhibit detailed analysis..... 

TABA's 2005 Legislative Agenda.....View it here.....

THIRP 2003 Annual Report.....Download the complete report to the Governor.

Review Important Issues From the 2003 78th Texas Legislative Session........