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HB 2412

AN ACT relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity

House Bill
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Requires health benefit plans in Texas to cover prescription drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity treatment, including plans for state employees, Medicaid, and various types of health insurance providers. The coverage mandate applies to health plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, potentially improving access to obesity medications for Texans and providing a new treatment option for individuals struggling with obesity. The legislation aims to expand medical treatment options by ensuring these specific obesity medications are included in health insurance prescription drug benefits.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R.  COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN OBESITY MEDICATIONS
Sec. 1369.781.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  (a)  This
subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides
benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a
health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual,
group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance
agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or
group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is
(2)  a group hospital service corporation operating
(3)  a health maintenance organization operating under
(4)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;
(5)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;
(6)  a stipulated premium company operating under
(7)  a fraternal benefit society operating under
(8)  a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or
(9)  an exchange operating under Chapter 942.
(b)  Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies
(1)  a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
(2)  a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
(3)  a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
(4)  the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid
managed care program operated under Chapter 540, Government Code.
Sec. 1369.782.  COVERAGE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN OBESITY
MEDICATIONS.  A health benefit plan that provides prescription drug
benefits must provide coverage for a prescription drug that is a
glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist to treat obesity.
SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3.  Subchapter R, Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered,
issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity