HB 2412
AN ACT relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
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
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain obesity
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