TX HB138

Establishes the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program at the Center for Health Care Data at UT Health Science Center at Houston to analyze proposed legislation that would impose new mandates on health benefit plan issuers

Allows the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, or committee chairs to request analyses of pending bills that would require insurers to cover specific health services, change provider payments, or implement new administrative requirements

Requires analyses to assess expected impacts on public health, total health coverage costs, healthcare utilization, administrative expenses, premature death reduction, and whether services are supported by medical evidence from sources including the FDA and CMS

Authorizes the comptroller to assess an annual fee on health benefit plan issuers subject to Chapters 843 or 1301 of the Insurance Code, prorated by covered lives, to fund the program; exempts state employee plans, teacher retirement plans, and Medicaid-only managed care organizations

Analysis reports must be delivered within 60 days of request (30 days during legislative session) to legislative leadership and posted publicly online; the program must be established by January 1, 2026