Bill Text: TX HB3937 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's authority to contract with federal agencies to provide healthcare to veterans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Referred to Higher Education [HB3937 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB3937-Introduced.html
By: Muñoz, Jr. | H.B. No. 3937 |
|
||
|
||
relating to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's authority | ||
to contract with federal agencies to provide healthcare to | ||
veterans. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 74, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 741.761 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 74.761. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PATIENTS. (a) | ||
The | ||
medical school may enter into one or more contracts with the U.S. | ||
Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") to provide medical and mental | ||
health treatment to residents of the county or service area who are | ||
otherwise eligible for the VA's health care assistance. | ||
(b) The medical school is encouraged to contribute money, | ||
property, and other resources to establish, maintain, and operate a | ||
veteran's hospital or provide medical and mental health care to | ||
area veterans in accordance with Section 73, Article XVI, Texas | ||
Constitution. | ||
(c) In complying with this section, the medical school may | ||
prioritize medical and mental health services that eliminate access | ||
to care issues and reduce wait times by providing an increased level | ||
of inpatient and outpatient care for veterans: | ||
(1) who would be forced to travel more than 200 miles | ||
for healthcare; or | ||
(2) who cannot access specialty or primary care in the | ||
service area. | ||
(d) To the extent possible, the medical school must spread | ||
any available medical and mental health care for veterans | ||
throughout the service region. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all 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, 2015. |