S.B. No. 1397
AN ACT
relating to regional protocols and processes for patient transfers
and related services within the geographic area served by certain
trauma service area regional advisory councils.
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, GUIDELINES, AND PROTOCOLS
RELATED TO CERTAIN PATIENT TRANSFERS AND RELATED SERVICES. (a)
This section applies only to a trauma service area regional
advisory council serving a geographic area 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 executive commissioner by rule
shall:
(1) require the council to create an advisory committee
composed of equally represented designated trauma hospital system
members located within the geographic boundaries of the council or
require the council to direct an existing advisory committee of the
council established for a purpose similar to that described by this
subsection 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
health care facility closest to and most appropriate for the
patients, require the council to develop regional protocols and
processes to assist the council in managing the dispatch, triage,
transport, and transfer of patients; and
(3) require each hospital and emergency medical
services provider operating within the council's geographic
boundaries to collect and report to the council data on patients
transferred outside the council's geographic boundaries.
SECTION 2. Not later than April 1, 2022, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt the rules required by Section 773.1141, Health and Safety
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1397 passed the Senate on
April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1397 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 113,
Nays 34, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor