H.B. No. 2848

	AN ACT
	relating to consultations with contracted physician networks and
	physician systems during certain investigations of child abuse and
	neglect.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, is
	amended by adding Section 261.3017 to read as follows:
	Sec. 261.3017.  CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIAN NETWORKS AND
	SYSTEMS REGARDING CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS. (a) In this
	section:
	(1)  "Network" means the Forensic Assessment Center
	Network.
	(2)  "System" means the entities that receive grants
	under the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System
	(MEDCARES) authorized by Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code.
	(b)  Any agreement between the department and the network or
	between the Department of State Health Services and the system to
	provide assistance in connection with abuse and neglect
	investigations conducted by the department must require the network
	and the system to have the ability to obtain consultations with
	physicians, including radiologists, geneticists, and
	endocrinologists, who specialize in identifying unique health
	conditions, including:
	(1)  rickets;
	(2)  Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome;
	(3)  osteogenesis imperfecta;
	(4)  vitamin D deficiency; and
	(5)  other similar metabolic bone diseases or
	connective tissue disorders.
	(c)  If, during an abuse or neglect investigation or an
	assessment provided under Subsection (b), the department or a
	physician in the network determines that a child requires a
	specialty consultation with a physician, the department or the
	physician shall refer the child's case to the system for the
	consultation, if the system has available capacity to take the
	child's case.
	(d)  In providing assessments to the department as provided
	by Subsection (b), the network and the system must use a blind peer
	review process to resolve cases where physicians in the network or
	system disagree in the assessment of the causes of a child's
	injuries or in the presence of a condition listed under Subsection
	(b).
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	an agreement entered into or renewed on or after the effective date
	of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the House on May 2,
	2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 2848 on May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0,
	2 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor