Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1697 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R13183 DMS-F
2	2	By: Lucio S.B. No. 1697
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a multi-stakeholder advisory
8	8	committee on health literacy.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended
11	11	by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER J. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
13	13	LITERACY
14	14	Sec. 1001.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
15	15	(1) "Advisory committee" means the multi-stakeholder
16	16	advisory committee on health literacy established under this
17	17	subchapter.
18	18	(2) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an
19	19	individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and
20	20	understand basic health information and services so the person may
21	21	make appropriate decisions about the treatment, payment, or
22	22	coverage of health care and navigate complexities in the health
23	23	care system.
24	24	Sec. 1001.252. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
25	25	HEALTH LITERACY. The department shall establish a
26	26	multi-stakeholder advisory committee on health literacy to study
27	27	and make recommendations to improve health literacy in this state.
28	28	Sec. 1001.253. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The
29	29	advisory committee is composed of:
30	30	(1) three representatives of the department selected
31	31	by the commissioner;
32	32	(2) a representative from each of the following
33	33	agencies, selected by the executive head of the agency:
34	34	(A) the Health and Human Services Commission;
35	35	(B) the center for elimination of
36	36	disproportionality and disparities;
37	37	(C) the Employees Retirement System of Texas;
38	38	(D) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; and
39	39	(E) each state agency or system of higher
40	40	education that purchases or provides health care services, as
41	41	determined by the governor;
42	42	(3) the following representatives appointed by the
43	43	governor:
44	44	(A) three employers domiciled in this state; and
45	45	(B) three health care consumers; and
46	46	(4) the following ex officio members:
47	47	(A) the commissioner of insurance or the
48	48	commissioner of insurance's designee; and
49	49	(B) the state Medicaid director of the commission
50	50	or the director's designee.
51	51	Sec. 1001.254. PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner shall
52	52	appoint from among the members of the advisory committee a
53	53	presiding officer and an assistant presiding officer.
54	54	Sec. 1001.255. VACANCY. A vacancy on the advisory
55	55	committee shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the
56	56	original appointment.
57	57	Sec. 1001.256. MEETINGS. The advisory committee shall meet
58	58	at the call of the presiding officer.
59	59	Sec. 1001.257. DUTIES. (a) The advisory committee shall:
60	60	(1) develop an expanded definition of health literacy
61	61	that includes a focus on a patient's need for transparent
62	62	information about the cost and quality of health care and available
63	63	treatment options;
64	64	(2) examine the impact of low health literacy on
65	65	health care cost and quality outcomes; and
66	66	(3) develop policy recommendations, based on the
67	67	findings of the advisory committee, to:
68	68	(A) promote the use of plain language by health
69	69	care providers;
70	70	(B) promote the use of simplified enrollment
71	71	forms;
72	72	(C) develop health literacy resources for both
73	73	providers and consumers of health care; and
74	74	(D) develop programs to support improved health
75	75	literacy.
76	76	(b) The advisory committee may consult with and invite
77	77	participation from groups, organizations, and agencies as needed to
78	78	accomplish the goals of the committee.
79	79	Sec. 1001.258. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The department
80	80	shall provide administrative support for the advisory committee.
81	81	Sec. 1001.259. REPORT. (a) The advisory committee shall
82	82	prepare a report that includes the committee's findings and policy
83	83	recommendations under Section 1001.257.
84	84	(b) Not later than October 1, 2018, the advisory committee
85	85	shall submit the report required under this section to the
86	86	legislature.
87	87	Sec. 1001.260. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the
88	88	advisory committee serve without compensation and may not be
89	89	reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting
90	90	the business of the advisory committee.
91	91	Sec. 1001.261. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee is
92	92	abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2019.
93	93	SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2017, the appropriate
94	94	appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the
95	95	multi-stakeholder advisory committee on health literacy in
96	96	accordance with Subchapter J, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code,
97	97	as added by this Act.
98	98	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.