82R9351 SJM-D
By: Shelton H.B. No. 3279
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Santa Rosa grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter Q-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Q-1. SANTA ROSA GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 531.671. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter:
(1) "Advance directive" has the meaning assigned by
Section 166.002, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Chronic illness" means a medical condition that
traditionally requires frequent use of hospital services,
including:
(A) tumors of the central nervous system;
(B) trauma to the central nervous system;
(C) cerebral palsy; and
(D) multiple complications due to premature
birth.
(3) "Grant program" means the Santa Rosa grant program
established under this subchapter.
(4) "Hospital" means a general hospital, pediatric and
adolescent hospital, or special hospital, as those terms are
defined by Section 241.003, Health and Safety Code.
(5) "Palliative care" has the meaning assigned by
Section 142.001, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall define
"low-income" and may further define "chronic illness" for purposes
of this subchapter.
Sec. 531.672. ESTABLISHMENT OF SANTA ROSA GRANT PROGRAM.
The commission shall establish the Santa Rosa grant program to
award grants to hospitals for the purpose of:
(1) reducing the number of unnecessary emergency room
visits by chronically ill, low-income children through the
establishment of a primary care environment;
(2) decreasing the need for the long-term
hospitalization of chronically ill, low-income children by
maximizing the use of outpatient services; and
(3) reducing the costs associated with providing
medical care to chronically ill, low-income children.
Sec. 531.673. AWARDING OF GRANTS; ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)
Subject to Section 531.674, the executive commissioner or the
executive commissioner's designee shall award grants under this
subchapter.
(b) The executive commissioner may establish an advisory
committee to make recommendations on establishing the grant program
and making awards under the grant program. If the executive
commissioner establishes an advisory committee under this
subsection, the executive commissioner may appoint any of the
following persons to the advisory committee:
(1) representatives of appropriate public or private
entities, including state agencies concerned with health care
management;
(2) physicians;
(3) members of the legislature;
(4) representatives of the health insurance industry;
and
(5) any other persons the executive commissioner
determines appropriate.
(c) An advisory committee created under this section is not
subject to Chapter 2110.
Sec. 531.674. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive an
award under the grant program, a hospital must have the facilities
and staff necessary to provide or facilitate the provision of the
following services to a chronically ill child:
(1) a primary care physician who must, to the extent
possible:
(A) see the child at each elective visit to the
hospital or clinic affiliated with the hospital;
(B) coordinate the child's consultants,
medications, and hospitalizations; and
(C) if the child is hospitalized:
(i) act as the child's attending physician;
and
(ii) see the child at least five of every
seven days that the child is hospitalized;
(2) pastoral services;
(3) planning services related to creating an advance
directive;
(4) assistance in identifying and enrolling in
community-based service programs as an alternative to
hospitalization; and
(5) palliative care.
Sec. 531.675. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
GRANTS. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the executive commissioner
or the executive commissioner's designee may make an award under
the grant program to a hospital regardless of whether the hospital
provides medical care to children under the Medicaid program or the
child health plan program, or whether the care is paid for
out-of-pocket or by private health insurance.
(b) In awarding grants, the executive commissioner or the
executive commissioner's designee shall give preference to
hospitals that:
(1) frequently provide services to chronically ill
children under the Medicaid and child health plan programs; and
(2) cooperate with affiliated community-based support
services organizations.
Sec. 531.676. STATE FUNDS, GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.
The commission may use appropriated funds from the state and may
solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or
private source to fund the grant program.
Sec. 531.677. REPORT. The commission annually shall submit
to the standing committees of the senate and house of
representatives having primary jurisdiction over health and human
services, the governor, and the Legislative Budget Board a report
regarding the operation of the grant program. The report must
include:
(1) a summary of the grant program's impact on:
(A) reducing the number of unnecessary emergency
room visits by chronically ill, low-income children;
(B) decreasing the need for the long-term
hospitalization of chronically ill, low-income children; and
(C) reducing the costs associated with providing
medical care to chronically ill, low-income children; and
(2) recommendations regarding changes to the grant
program to achieve better outcomes.
Sec. 531.678. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt
rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the Health
and Human Services Commission shall establish and implement the
Santa Rosa grant program required by Subchapter Q-1, Chapter 531,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2013, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall submit the initial report required under
Section 531.677, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.