By: Guerra H.B. No. 3581
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a coordinated system for the dispatch,
triage, transport, and transfer of patients in certain trauma
service area regional advisory councils; providing rulemaking
authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 773.1141 to read as follows:
Sec. 773.1141. INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES RELATED TO
CERTAIN PATIENT TRANSFERS AND RELATED SERVICES. (a) This section
applies only to a trauma service area regional advisory council
that includes:
(1) at least one county located on the international
border of this state; and
(2) at least one county adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.
(b) For each trauma service area regional advisory council
to which this section applies, the department, by January 1, 2022,
by rule shall:
(1) require the council to create an advisory
committee composed of equally represented designated trauma
hospital members located within the geographic boundaries of the
council to:
(A) develop guidelines for patient transfers;
and
(B) periodically review patient transfers to
ensure compliance with applicable guidelines;
(2) for the purpose of ensuring that patients located
in the council's geographic boundaries receive health care at the
closest and most appropriate health care facility, require the
council to implement a centralized system to assist the council in
the dispatch, triage, transport, and transfer of patients; and
(3) require each hospital and emergency services
provider operating within the geographic boundaries of the council
to collect and report to the council data on patients transferred
outside the geographic boundaries of the council.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.