83R4635 KKR-D
By: Schwertner S.B. No. 830
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to use of telemedicine in certain trauma facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 773.1151 to read as follows:
Sec. 773.1151. USE OF TELEMEDICINE BY CERTAIN TRAUMA
FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "telemedicine medical service"
means a health care service that is initiated by a physician to
provide patient assessment, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment
or to transfer medical data and that requires the use of advanced
telecommunications technology, other than telephone or facsimile
technology, including:
(1) compressed digital interactive video, audio, or
data transmission;
(2) clinical data transmission using computer imaging
by way of still-image capture and store and forward; and
(3) other technology that facilitates access to health
care services or medical specialty expertise.
(b) A health care facility designated as a level IV trauma
facility and located in a county with a population of less than
50,000 may provide medical care to patients through the use of
telemedicine medical services provided by an on-call physician who
has special competence in the care of critically injured patients.
(c) Department rules may not, as part of the requirements
for designation of the facility as a level IV trauma facility,
require the physical presence or physical availability of a
physician described by Subsection (b) and may not prohibit the use
of telemedicine medical services that meet the requirements of
Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section
773.1151, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later
than December 1, 2013.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 773.1151, Health and
Safety Code, as added by this Act, a level IV trauma facility
located in a county with a population of less than 50,000 may only
use telemedicine medical services for the purposes authorized by
that section on or after January 1, 2014.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.