88R2534 KKR-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 2417
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on the effects of providing child life
specialist services to certain individuals who receive supportive
palliative care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Advisory council" means the Palliative Care
Interdisciplinary Advisory Council established under Chapter 118,
Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Child life specialist" means a health care
provider that offers psychosocial support to pediatric patients and
to the children of seriously ill adult patients by helping improve a
child's coping skills, aiding in the development of holistic pain
management and other symptom management strategies for pediatric
patients, and improving the overall patient experience.
(3) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
SECTION 2. STUDY REGARDING CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST SERVICES.
(a) The commission, in collaboration with the advisory council,
shall conduct a study to assess the effects of supporting the use of
child life specialist services by or providing child life
specialist services to adult and child Medicaid recipients in this
state who receive supportive palliative care in inpatient or
community-based settings, including:
(1) potential improvements to recipients' health care
outcomes and quality of life; and
(2) anticipated cost savings to this state.
(b) The study must identify:
(1) the role child life specialists currently play in
providing supportive palliative care services to individuals,
including Medicaid recipients, in inpatient and community-based
settings in this state;
(2) the current funding method for child life
specialist positions;
(3) opportunities for increasing the use of child life
specialist services in this state; and
(4) best practices for using child life specialist
services as developed by other states.
(c) The advisory council shall provide recommendations to
the commission regarding the structure and goals of the study,
including recommendations for:
(1) specific populations to receive supportive
palliative care under Medicaid;
(2) variables and outcomes to measure in the study;
and
(3) entities, including hospitals, hospices, and home
health agencies, with which the commission may collaborate to
conduct the study.
(d) The commission may:
(1) collaborate with private and public entities as
necessary to conduct the study; and
(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
from any public or private source to fund the study.
SECTION 3. REPORT TO ADVISORY COUNCIL AND LEGISLATURE. (a)
Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall prepare and
submit to the advisory council a report on the results of the study
conducted under this Act.
(b) The advisory council shall include the commission's
report under Subsection (a) of this section in the advisory
council's 2026 biennial report to the legislature required by
Section 118.010, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2026.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the 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, 2023.