1. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish and administer an electronic, searchable, Internet-based database of all participating providers in the medical assistance program.

2. (b) The database must include, as applicable, at least the following information regarding each participating provider:

   1. (1) the provider's:

      1. (A) name;
      2. (B) specialty;
      3. (C) location;
      4. (D) office hours, including any office hours outside of regular business hours; and
      5. (E) telephone number;

   2. (2) whether the provider:

      1. (A) is accepting new recipients, and if the provider is accepting new recipients and if applicable, the managed care organization or managed care plan under which new recipients are being accepted;
      2. (B) has any practice limitations, including specific age range limitations; and
      3. (C) speaks any languages other than English;
   3. (3) a list of the medical assistance program services offered by the provider; and
   4. (4) any waiver program or other program within the medical assistance program in which the provider is a participant, including the Texas Health Steps program.

3. (c) In establishing the database, the executive commissioner shall ensure that the database:

   1. (1) allows a person to search a managed care organization by name and by participating provider within each of the managed care plans offered by that managed care organization;
   2. (2) allows a participating provider to electronically access and change or update the information required by Subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3); and
   3. (3) is available and accessible to each participating provider and each recipient.
4. (d) The executive commissioner shall ensure that the database is updated continually and at least once a month.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 883 (H.B. 2042), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.