TX SB2388

Creates a new "Managed Care Client Choice Program" requiring the Health and Human Services Commission to contract with managed care organizations in a manner that emphasizes strong client choice among multiple plans in all health care service regions, including rural areas

Replaces the competitive procurement process with an annual request for applications system where the commission must award contracts to all managed care organizations that meet certification requirements, financial solvency standards, and performance/quality benchmarks—with no limit on the number of organizations per region

Mandates automatic enrollment processes for both Medicaid and CHIP where eligible applicants are enrolled in the managed care plan of their choice, and recipients must be allowed to change plans as frequently as federal law permits

Establishes performance evaluation criteria including quality-of-care measures, cost-efficiency benchmarks, customer satisfaction surveys, and provider satisfaction surveys, with annual reviews posted publicly on the commission's website

Sets implementation timeline with STAR, STAR Kids, and CHIP contracts to begin operations on or after September 1, 2027, and STAR Health and STAR+PLUS contracts on or after September 1, 2030; terminates any pending managed care contract procurements initiated before the effective date