H.B. No. 2848
AN ACT
relating to consultations with contracted physician networks and
physician systems during certain investigations of child abuse and
neglect.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 261.3017 to read as follows:
Sec. 261.3017. CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIAN NETWORKS AND
SYSTEMS REGARDING CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Network" means the Forensic Assessment Center
Network.
(2) "System" means the entities that receive grants
under the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System
(MEDCARES) authorized by Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code.
(b) Any agreement between the department and the network or
between the Department of State Health Services and the system to
provide assistance in connection with abuse and neglect
investigations conducted by the department must require the network
and the system to have the ability to obtain consultations with
physicians, including radiologists, geneticists, and
endocrinologists, who specialize in identifying unique health
conditions, including:
(1) rickets;
(2) Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome;
(3) osteogenesis imperfecta;
(4) vitamin D deficiency; and
(5) other similar metabolic bone diseases or
connective tissue disorders.
(c) If, during an abuse or neglect investigation or an
assessment provided under Subsection (b), the department or a
physician in the network determines that a child requires a
specialty consultation with a physician, the department or the
physician shall refer the child's case to the system for the
consultation, if the system has available capacity to take the
child's case.
(d) In providing assessments to the department as provided
by Subsection (b), the network and the system must use a blind peer
review process to resolve cases where physicians in the network or
system disagree in the assessment of the causes of a child's
injuries or in the presence of a condition listed under Subsection
(b).
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an agreement entered into or renewed on or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the House on May 2,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2848 on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor