A leading state senator says she will propose tougher safeguards against unethical behavior by those involved in awarding contracts to the private vendors who increasingly deliver medical care and social services to vulnerable Texans.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, is calling for stronger conflict of interest laws to bar issuing state health and human services program contracts to companies that have ties to agency employees.
Nelson, who is chairwoman of the Sunset Advisory Commission, also wants increased oversight of major contracts, such as two that have sparked criticism in recent weeks — a $20 million award to Austin tech company 21CT to detect Medicaid fraud and a $105 million, telecom “managed services” deal with a subsidiary of Dallas-based AT&T Inc.