| 1 | 1 | | By: Guillen H.B. No. 2791 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the state plan for hepatitis C prevention, testing, and |
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| 7 | 7 | | treatment. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 94.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (a) The department shall develop a state plan for prevention |
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| 13 | 13 | | of, testing for, and treatment of hepatitis C. The plan must |
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| 14 | 14 | | include strategies for prevention of, testing for, and treatment of |
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| 15 | 15 | | hepatitis C in specific demographic groups that are |
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| 16 | 16 | | disproportionately affected by hepatitis C, including: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) persons infected with HIV; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) [,] veterans; |
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| 19 | 19 | | (3) [,] racial or ethnic minorities that suffer a |
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| 20 | 20 | | higher incidence of hepatitis C; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (4) [, and] persons who engage in high risk behavior, |
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| 22 | 22 | | such as intravenous drug use; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | (5) persons born between 1945 and 1965. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b-1) In developing the state plan, the department shall: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) determine methods for increasing access to testing |
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| 26 | 26 | | and treatment for underinsured or uninsured patients; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) consider methods for promoting health care |
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| 28 | 28 | | providers to offer hepatitis C testing and treatment, including in |
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| 29 | 29 | | rural areas and areas designated as medically underserved areas |
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| 30 | 30 | | under state or federal law; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (3) report on the use of telemedicine medical services |
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| 32 | 32 | | and telehealth services in providing hepatitis C treatment to rural |
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| 33 | 33 | | and medically underserved areas. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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