By: Rose, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Miles)	H.B. No. 1488
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2023;
	April 12, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
	Human Services; May 8, 2023, reported favorably by the following
	vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 8, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to sickle cell disease health care improvement and the
	sickle cell task force.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 533.0091 to read as follows:
	Sec. 533.0091.  SICKLE CELL DISEASE TREATMENT. To the
	extent possible, the commission shall:
	(1)  in collaboration with the sickle cell task force
	established under Chapter 52, Health and Safety Code:
	(A)  support initiatives to assist managed care
	plans in promoting timely, evidence-informed health care services
	to plan enrollees diagnosed with sickle cell disease to ensure the
	services reflect national clinical practice guidelines and
	protocols for sickle cell disease treatment and meet medical
	necessity criteria; and
	(B)  address sickle cell disease education for
	Medicaid providers, including emergency department providers, by
	collaborating with medical specialty organizations in this state,
	state agencies, and health-related institutions to promote
	existing or new continuing education courses or facilitate
	development of any necessary new courses to improve the diagnosis,
	treatment, and management of sickle cell disease and the personal
	treatment of patients with sickle cell disease; and
	(2)  use the commission's existing data to identify
	opportunities for improving health outcomes of recipients
	diagnosed with sickle cell disease by:
	(A)  reducing hospital admissions and
	readmissions; and
	(B)  connecting those recipients to a sickle cell
	disease health home or sickle cell disease expert.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 52.0003 and 52.0007, Health and Safety
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 52.0003.  COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is
	composed of the following members appointed by the executive
	commissioner:
	(1)  two members from community-based organizations
	with experience addressing the needs of individuals with sickle
	cell disease;
	(2)  two physicians specializing in hematology;
	(3)  three [two] members of the public, one of whom has
	sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait and two [each] of whom
	either have [has] sickle cell disease or are [is] a parent of a
	person with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait; [and]
	(4)  one representative of a health-related
	institution;
	(5)  one representative of the Texas Education Agency;
	(6)  one representative of the commission;
	(7)  one physician with experience addressing the needs
	of individuals with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait;
	(8)  one researcher from a public health-related or
	academic institution with experience addressing sickle cell
	disease and sickle cell trait; and
	(9)  one health care professional with experience
	addressing the needs of individuals with sickle cell disease or
	sickle cell trait.
	Sec. 52.0007.  ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1
	of each year, the task force shall prepare and submit to the
	governor and the legislature an annual written report that
	summarizes the task force's work and includes any recommended
	actions or policy changes endorsed by the task force.
	(b)  The task force shall, in collaboration with the
	commission, include in the task force's annual report
	recommendations for improving sickle cell disease education for
	health care providers.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 52, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
	adding Section 52.0008 to read as follows:
	Sec. 52.0008.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
	this chapter expires August 31, 2035.
	SECTION 4.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 52A to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 52A. SICKLE CELL DISEASE CARE EDUCATION AND TREATMENT
	Sec. 52A.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "sickle cell
	task force" means the sickle cell task force established under
	Chapter 52.
	Sec. 52A.002.  EMERGENCY AND PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE GRADUATE
	MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM. (a) In this section,
	"graduate medical education program" and "medical school" have the
	meanings assigned by Section 58A.001, Education Code.
	(b)  A medical school or graduate medical education program
	in this state that offers an emergency medicine, family medicine,
	internal medicine, obstetrics, or pediatrics residency program
	shall examine and, to the extent possible, incorporate in the
	curriculum requirements for the program education focused on sickle
	cell disease and sickle cell trait.  The medical school or graduate
	medical education program may enter into agreements as necessary
	for the purposes of this section.
	Sec. 52A.003.  INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
	PERSONNEL. (a) To the extent possible, the Texas Education Agency
	in collaboration with sickle cell disease community-based
	organizations shall provide information on sickle cell disease and
	sickle cell trait to public school districts and district staff,
	including school nurses, teachers, and coaches.
	(b)  The commission in collaboration with the sickle cell
	task force shall explore methods for improving sickle cell disease
	education and awareness within the public school system and provide
	recommendations to the Texas Education Agency on the improvement
	methods.
	SECTION 5.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission shall appoint the new members of the sickle
	cell task force as required by Section 52.0003, Health and Safety
	Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 6.  Section 52A.002, Health and Safety Code, as
	added by this Act, applies to residents entering an emergency
	medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, or
	pediatrics residency program at a medical school or graduate
	medical education program in this state on or after January 1, 2024.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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