H.B. No. 2131
AN ACT
relating to the designation of centers of excellence to achieve
healthy fetal outcomes in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
FOR FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY
Sec. 32.071. DESIGNATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FETAL
DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY. (a) The department, in consultation with
the Perinatal Advisory Council established under Section 241.187,
shall designate as centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and
therapy one or more health care entities or programs in this state,
including institutions of higher education as defined by Section
61.003, Education Code, or the programs of those institutions.
(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission, in consultation with the department and the
Perinatal Advisory Council, shall adopt the rules necessary for a
health care entity or program in this state to be designated as a
center of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy.
Sec. 32.072. SUBCOMMITTEE. (a) The department, in
consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Council, shall appoint a
subcommittee of that advisory council to advise the advisory
council and the department on the development of rules related to
the designations made by the department under this subchapter. As
part of its duties under this subsection, the subcommittee
specifically shall advise the advisory council and the department
regarding the criteria necessary for a health care entity or
program in this state to receive a designation under this
subchapter.
(b) The subcommittee must consist of individuals with
expertise in fetal diagnosis and therapy. A majority of the members
of the subcommittee must practice in those areas in a health
profession in this state. The subcommittee may include national and
international experts.
Sec. 32.073. PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CENTER
DESIGNATIONS. The rules adopted under Section 32.071(b) must
prioritize awarding a designation under this subchapter to a health
care entity or program that:
(1) offers fetal diagnosis and therapy through an
extensive multi-specialty clinical program that is affiliated and
collaborates extensively with a medical school in this state and an
associated hospital facility that provides advanced maternal and
neonatal care in accordance with its level of care designation
received under Section 241.182;
(2) demonstrates a significant commitment to research
in and advancing the field of fetal diagnosis and therapy;
(3) offers advanced training programs in fetal
diagnosis and therapy; and
(4) integrates an advanced fetal care program with a
program that provides appropriate long-term monitoring and
follow-up care for patients.
Sec. 32.074. QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. The rules
adopted under Section 32.071(b) must ensure that a health care
entity or program that receives a center of excellence designation
under this subchapter:
(1) provides or is affiliated with a hospital facility
that provides advanced maternal and neonatal care in accordance
with its level of care designation received under Section 241.182;
(2) implements and maintains a multidisciplinary
health care team, including maternal fetal medicine specialists,
pediatric and surgical specialists, neonatologists, nurses with
specialized maternal and neonatal training, and other ancillary and
support staff as appropriate to provide maternal, fetal, and
neonatal services;
(3) establishes minimum criteria for medical staff,
nursing staff, and ancillary and support personnel;
(4) measures short-term and long-term patient
diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes; and
(5) provides to the department annual reports
containing aggregate data on short-term and long-term diagnostic
and therapeutic outcomes as requested or required by the department
and makes those reports available to the public.
SECTION 2. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section
32.071, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than
March 1, 2017.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2017
, the Department of
State Health Services shall begin awarding designations required by
Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act, to health care entities establishing eligibility under that
subchapter.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2131 was passed by the House on May
13, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 4, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2131 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 7,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2131 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor