Texas House Bill HB1363

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 3/30/09
• Voted on by House: 4/13/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/5/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/14/09
• Governor Action: 5/30/09
• Enrolled: 5/20/09
• Passed: 5/30/09

Caption

Relating to the diabetes mellitus registry pilot program.

Impact

The implementation of this registry under HB 1363 will provide Texas with a structured approach to track diabetes indicators, allowing for targeted public health initiatives. By centralizing data on diabetes, the state can better allocate resources to combat the disease, promote awareness, and advance research. With public health districts participating voluntarily, there should be an emphasis on encouraging widespread collaboration between local health authorities and laboratories to maximize the scope of the data collected. This will provide valuable insights for preventive measures and policy-making related to diabetes management.

Summary

House Bill 1363 establishes a voluntary statewide diabetes mellitus registry designed to improve public health monitoring and enhance data collection regarding diabetes within participating public health districts in Texas. This registry will allow the Texas Department of State Health Services to maintain an electronic database tracking glycosylated hemoglobin levels from clinical laboratory tests within those districts. The primary objective of the registry is to facilitate better understanding of diabetes prevalence, disease control among demographics, trends in new diagnoses, and associated healthcare costs.

Contention

One of the notable aspects of HB 1363 is the confidentiality clause included, which ensures that all reports and information gathered are not publicly disclosed and are used solely for health-related purposes. While maintaining patient privacy is crucial, some stakeholders may express concerns regarding the restrictions this may impose on data accessibility for research purposes. There may be debate around balancing the need for confidential patient data with the imperative for robust diabetes research that often requires broader access to health records. Overall, while the bill aims to strengthen diabetes monitoring, discussions around its implementation may highlight challenges related to privacy and data sharing.