Texas 2025 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4743 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/29/2025

                    89R14531 MPF-D
 By: Bonnen, Bucy H.B. No. 4743




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the issuance of a single license for a hospital and a
 mobile stroke unit of the hospital.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 241.023, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by amending Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) and adding
 Subsection (h) to read as follows:
 (c-1)  The department may issue:
 (1)  one license for multiple hospitals if:
 (A) [(1)]  all buildings in which inpatients
 receive hospital services and inpatient services of each of the
 hospitals to be included in the license are subject to the control
 and direction of the same governing body;
 (B) [(2)]  all buildings in which inpatients
 receive hospital services are within a 30-mile radius of the main
 address of the applicant;
 (C) [(3)]  there is integration of the organized
 medical staff of each of the hospitals to be included in the
 license;
 (D) [(4)]  there is a single chief executive
 officer for all of the hospitals who reports directly to the
 governing body and through whom all administrative authority flows
 and who exercises control and surveillance over all administrative
 activities of the hospital;
 (E) [(5)]  there is a single chief medical officer
 for all of the hospitals who reports directly to the governing body
 and who is responsible for all medical staff activities of the
 hospital;
 (F) [(6)]  each building of a hospital to be
 included in the license that is geographically separate from other
 buildings of the same hospital contains at least one nursing unit
 for inpatients, unless providing only diagnostic or laboratory
 services, or a combination of diagnostic or laboratory services, in
 the building for hospital inpatients; and
 (G) [(7)]  each hospital that is to be included in
 the license complies with the emergency services standards:
 (i) [(A)]  for a general hospital, if the
 hospital provides surgery or obstetrical care or both; or
 (ii) [(B)]  for a special hospital, if the
 hospital does not provide surgery or obstetrical care; and
 (2)  one license for a hospital and a mobile stroke unit
 of the hospital if the mobile stroke unit is accredited by a health
 care accreditation organization approved by the Centers for
 Medicare and Medicaid Services.
 (c-2)  The department may recommend a waiver of the
 requirement of Subsection (c-1)(1)(G) [(c-1)(7)] for a hospital if
 another hospital that is to be included in the license:
 (1)  complies with the emergency services standards for
 a general hospital; and
 (2)  is in close geographic proximity to the hospital.
 (h)  Subsection (g) does not apply to a license issued to a
 mobile stroke unit of a hospital under Subsection (c-1)(2).
 SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
 of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
 Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
 Section 241.023(c-1), Health and Safety Code, as amended by this
 Act.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.