86R8676 EAS-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 850
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on freestanding emergency medical care
facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Facility" means a freestanding emergency medical
care facility licensed under Chapter 254, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The commission shall conduct a study on freestanding
emergency medical care facilities that:
(1) reviews the impact facilities have on medically
underserved and rural areas of this state;
(2) reviews the impact facilities have on rural
hospitals in this state;
(3) reviews the impact facilities have on hospital
emergency rooms in this state;
(4) reviews complaints filed against facilities;
(5) examines the reasons facilities have closed;
(6) examines the reasons facilities have filed
petitions for bankruptcy;
(7) examines patient protections provided by
facilities and patient health care coverage available at the
facilities;
(8) examines the location of facilities, the growth
patterns of new facilities, and the proximity of the new facilities
to hospital emergency rooms; and
(9) identifies gaps in emergency medical care
treatment that are filled by facilities.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2020, the commission shall
prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of
the house of representatives, and members of the legislature a
written report that includes a summary of the results of the study
conducted under this section and any legislative recommendations
based on the study.
(d) This Act expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.