84R21937 LED-D
By: Laubenberg, Coleman, Guerra, H.B. No. 2082
Bonnen of Galveston
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2082:
By: Crownover C.S.H.B. No. 2082
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to developing a program to provide telemedicine medical
services to certain children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.076 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.076. TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
WITH CHRONIC OR COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS. (a) In this section,
"telemedicine medical service" means a health care service that is
provided by a physician for purposes of patient assessment,
diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, or for the transfer of
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) The commission shall develop and implement a program to:
(1) enable an eligible child described under
Subsection (c) to receive medical assistance benefits for health
care services provided in the child's residence through
telemedicine medical services; and
(2) provide reimbursement for telemedicine medical
services under Subdivision (1).
(c) A child is eligible for inclusion in the program under
this section if the child:
(1) is a recipient of medical assistance; and
(2) has been diagnosed with:
(A) an end-stage solid organ disease; or
(B) a condition that, as determined by commission
rule, requires:
(i) mechanical ventilation;
(ii) the child to be technology-dependent;
or
(iii) the child to be treated by three or
more specialists.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2019, and at other times after
that date as determined appropriate by the executive commissioner,
the commission shall report to the legislature on results and
outcomes of the program. A report must include:
(1) an evaluation of clinical outcomes of the program,
including the program's success in reducing expected emergency
department visits; and
(2) the program's impact on medical costs.
(e) The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement
this section.
SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.