Bill Text: TX HB3279 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Santa Rosa grant program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-18 - Referred to Public Health [HB3279 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB3279-Introduced.html
  82R9351 SJM-D
 
  By: Shelton H.B. No. 3279
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Santa Rosa grant program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter Q-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER Q-1. SANTA ROSA GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 531.671.  DEFINITIONS. (a)  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Advance directive" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 166.002, Health and Safety Code.
               (2)  "Chronic illness" means a medical condition that
  traditionally requires frequent use of hospital services,
  including:
                     (A)  tumors of the central nervous system;
                     (B)  trauma to the central nervous system;
                     (C)  cerebral palsy; and
                     (D)  multiple complications due to premature
  birth.
               (3)  "Grant program" means the Santa Rosa grant program
  established under this subchapter.
               (4)  "Hospital" means a general hospital, pediatric and
  adolescent hospital, or special hospital, as those terms are
  defined by Section 241.003, Health and Safety Code.
               (5)  "Palliative care" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 142.001, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The executive commissioner by rule shall define
  "low-income" and may further define "chronic illness" for purposes
  of this subchapter.
         Sec. 531.672.  ESTABLISHMENT OF SANTA ROSA GRANT PROGRAM.
  The commission shall establish the Santa Rosa grant program to
  award grants to hospitals for the purpose of:
               (1)  reducing the number of unnecessary emergency room
  visits by chronically ill, low-income children through the
  establishment of a primary care environment;
               (2)  decreasing the need for the long-term
  hospitalization of chronically ill, low-income children by
  maximizing the use of outpatient services; and
               (3)  reducing the costs associated with providing
  medical care to chronically ill, low-income children.
         Sec. 531.673.  AWARDING OF GRANTS; ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)
  Subject to Section 531.674, the executive commissioner or the
  executive commissioner's designee shall award grants under this
  subchapter.
         (b)  The executive commissioner may establish an advisory
  committee to make recommendations on establishing the grant program
  and making awards under the grant program. If the executive
  commissioner establishes an advisory committee under this
  subsection, the executive commissioner may appoint any of the
  following persons to the advisory committee:
               (1)  representatives of appropriate public or private
  entities, including state agencies concerned with health care
  management;
               (2)  physicians;
               (3)  members of the legislature;
               (4)  representatives of the health insurance industry;
  and
               (5)  any other persons the executive commissioner
  determines appropriate.
         (c)  An advisory committee created under this section is not
  subject to Chapter 2110.
         Sec. 531.674.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive an
  award under the grant program, a hospital must have the facilities
  and staff necessary to provide or facilitate the provision of the
  following services to a chronically ill child:
               (1)  a primary care physician who must, to the extent
  possible:
                     (A)  see the child at each elective visit to the
  hospital or clinic affiliated with the hospital;
                     (B)  coordinate the child's consultants,
  medications, and hospitalizations; and
                     (C)  if the child is hospitalized:
                           (i)  act as the child's attending physician;
  and
                           (ii)  see the child at least five of every
  seven days that the child is hospitalized;
               (2)  pastoral services;
               (3)  planning services related to creating an advance
  directive;
               (4)  assistance in identifying and enrolling in
  community-based service programs as an alternative to
  hospitalization; and
               (5)  palliative care.
         Sec. 531.675.  ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
  GRANTS.  (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), the executive commissioner
  or the executive commissioner's designee may make an award under
  the grant program to a hospital regardless of whether the hospital
  provides medical care to children under the Medicaid program or the
  child health plan program, or whether the care is paid for
  out-of-pocket or by private health insurance.
         (b)  In awarding grants, the executive commissioner or the
  executive commissioner's designee shall give preference to
  hospitals that:
               (1)  frequently provide services to chronically ill
  children under the Medicaid and child health plan programs; and
               (2)  cooperate with affiliated community-based support
  services organizations.
         Sec. 531.676.  STATE FUNDS, GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.
  The commission may use appropriated funds from the state and may
  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or
  private source to fund the grant program.
         Sec. 531.677.  REPORT. The commission annually shall submit
  to the standing committees of the senate and house of
  representatives having primary jurisdiction over health and human
  services, the governor, and the Legislative Budget Board a report
  regarding the operation of the grant program. The report must
  include:
               (1)  a summary of the grant program's impact on:
                     (A)  reducing the number of unnecessary emergency
  room visits by chronically ill, low-income children;
                     (B)  decreasing the need for the long-term
  hospitalization of chronically ill, low-income children; and
                     (C)  reducing the costs associated with providing
  medical care to chronically ill, low-income children; and
               (2)  recommendations regarding changes to the grant
  program to achieve better outcomes.
         Sec. 531.678.  RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt
  rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the Health
  and Human Services Commission shall establish and implement the
  Santa Rosa grant program required by Subchapter Q-1, Chapter 531,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2013, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall submit the initial report required under
  Section 531.677, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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