Texas House Bill HB3523

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to educational requirements for hospital case managers.

Impact

The bill stipulates that hospital case managers must either hold a relevant license under Chapter 301 of the Occupations Code or possess a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education. This change is expected to elevate the professional qualifications within the field, thereby enhancing the quality of patient care delivered in hospitals. Compliance with these new educational requirements will be monitored by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which is tasked with adopting the necessary rules to enforce these standards.

Summary

House Bill 3523 introduces amendments to the Texas Health and Safety Code, specifically concerning the educational qualifications required for hospital case managers. The bill defines a hospital case manager as an individual responsible for coordinating health care, conducting utilization reviews, and overseeing discharge planning among other critical roles within a hospital. Its primary regulatory aim is to improve the standards of care provided by these professionals by mandating certain educational credentials.

Contention

Discussions around HB 3523 highlight potential points of contention regarding the increased educational requirements for hospital case managers. Supporters argue that elevated educational standards are essential for ensuring better health outcomes for patients, as they expect that more qualified professionals will lead to improved service delivery. However, there may be concerns from existing hospital case managers who may find these new requirements to be a barrier, potentially impacting employment opportunities for individuals already in the role but lacking the new qualifications.