DATABASE OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDERS.

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

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

(1) the provider's:

(A) name;

(B) specialty;

(C) location;

(D) office hours, including any office hours outside of regular business hours; and

(E) telephone number;

(2) whether the provider:

(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;

(B) has any practice limitations, including specific age range limitations; and

(C) speaks any languages other than English;

(3) a list of the medical assistance program services offered by the provider; and

(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.

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

(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) allows a participating provider to electronically access and change or update the information required by Subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3); and

(3) is available and accessible to each participating provider and each recipient.

(d) The executive commissioner shall ensure that the database is updated continually and at least once a month.