Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB3474 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R13846 JSC-D
2	2	By: Coleman H.B. No. 3474
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to indigent health care.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that this state has a
10	10	responsibility to ensure that indigent residents who do not have
11	11	health insurance, cannot afford to pay for health care, and do not
12	12	qualify for medical assistance through the state or federal
13	13	government have access to the basic services necessary to maintain
14	14	good health.
15	15	SECTION 2. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and
16	16	Human Services Commission shall adopt rules relating to improving
17	17	the indigent health care services provided throughout this state,
18	18	including rules relating to:
19	19	(1) contracts with health care entities for provision
20	20	of indigent health care services;
21	21	(2) requiring health care facilities, including
22	22	public and private hospitals, to implement an indigent health care
23	23	program in accordance with standards developed by the executive
24	24	commissioner;
25	25	(3) expanding eligibility for indigent health care
26	26	services by various methods, including raising the income level for
27	27	eligibility;
28	28	(4) maximizing available state and federal funding to
29	29	be used for provision of indigent health care, including federal
30	30	stimulus money and money for health care information technology;
31	31	(5) utilizing available private funding for provision
32	32	of indigent health care;
33	33	(6) increasing spending on indigent health care by
34	34	matching county funds with state funds;
35	35	(7) expanding the range of services offered to
36	36	indigent patients through an indigent health care program,
37	37	including dental services, physical therapy, and occupational
38	38	therapy;
39	39	(8) increasing access to preventative treatment,
40	40	including dental treatment, vaccinations, regular physical
41	41	examinations, and routine screenings for health conditions, to
42	42	lower the cost of emergency treatment;
43	43	(9) developing incentives for providers of indigent
44	44	health care to provide a wider variety of optional services;
45	45	(10) regulations for federally qualified health
46	46	centers to assist those entities in providing indigent health care
47	47	as efficiently as possible;
48	48	(11) outcome-based performance standards for indigent
49	49	health care designed to improve the quality of care and lower the
50	50	cost of care;
51	51	(12) educational programs to assist a recipient of
52	52	indigent health care to enroll in any health-related program
53	53	administered by this state or the federal government for which the
54	54	person is eligible;
55	55	(13) improving the communication between providers,
56	56	health care facilities, and the Department of State Health Services
57	57	to enable an appropriate response to issues as they arise;
58	58	(14) utilizing existing resources to their greatest
59	59	potential, including the county indigent health care program of the
60	60	Department of State Health Services;
61	61	(15) requiring the evaluation of state indigent health
62	62	care services and recommendations for improvement by state
63	63	agencies, educational institutions, or independent research
64	64	entities;
65	65	(16) identifying best practices for provision of care;
66	66	and
67	67	(17) establishing long-term goals for the provision of
68	68	indigent health care services.
69	69	(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, or
70	70	any other law regarding the provision of health care services to
71	71	persons who are uninsured or otherwise unable to afford to pay for
72	72	health care services, the Department of State Health Services shall
73	73	implement the rules adopted under Subsection (a).
74	74	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.