Bill Text: TX HB3976 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Women's Health Care Consortium.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-20 - Referred to Health Care Reform, Select [HB3976 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB3976-Introduced.html

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88R12597 MPF-D
By: Orr H.B. No. 3976

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Women's Health Care
Consortium.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 114 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 114. TEXAS WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 114.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Consortium" means the Texas Women's Health Care
Consortium.
(2) "Executive committee" means the executive
committee of the consortium.
(3) "Participating health-related institution of
higher education" means an institution listed in Section
114.052(1).
SUBCHAPTER B. CONSORTIUM
Sec. 114.051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Texas Women's
Health Care Consortium is established to:
(1) provide preventative health care services for
women, including cancer screenings, reproductive health care, and
immunizations, through telehealth or any other means;
(2) provide perinatal and postpartum care services for
women by telehealth or any other means, including telemonitoring;
(3) leverage the expertise and capacity of the
participating health-related institutions of higher education to
address urgent women's health challenges and improve the women's
health care system in this state; and
(4) enhance the state's ability to address women's
health care needs through collaboration of the participating
health-related institutions.
Sec. 114.052. CONSORTIUM COMPOSITION. The consortium is
composed of:
(1) the following health-related institutions of
higher education:
(A) Baylor College of Medicine;
(B) Texas A&M University System Health Science
Center;
(C) Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center;
(D) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
at El Paso;
(E) University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth;
(F) the Dell Medical School at The University of
Texas at Austin;
(G) The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center;
(H) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston;
(I) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston;
(J) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio;
(K) the School of Medicine at The University of
Texas Rio Grande Valley;
(L) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Tyler;
(M) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center; and
(N) Sam Houston State University College of
Osteopathic Medicine;
(2) the commission;
(3) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(4) three nonprofit organizations that focus on
women's health care, designated by a majority of the members
described by Subdivision (1); and
(5) any other entity that the executive committee
considers necessary.
Sec. 114.053. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The consortium is
administratively attached to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board for the purpose of receiving and administering
appropriations and other funds under this chapter. The board is
not responsible for providing to the consortium personnel, human
resources, contract monitoring, purchasing, or any other
administrative support services.
Sec. 114.054. FUNDING. The consortium may accept and use
for purposes of this chapter money appropriated by the legislature
and grants, gifts, and donations from public and private sources.
SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. 114.101. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. The
consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the
following members:
(1) the chair of the department of obstetrics and
gynecology or family medicine of each participating health-related
institution of higher education or a licensed obstetrics and
gynecology physician, family medicine physician, or maternal-fetal
medicine medical specialist designated by the chair to serve in the
chair's place;
(2) a representative of the commission with expertise
in women's health, appointed by the executive commissioner;
(3) a representative of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, appointed by the commissioner of the
coordinating board;
(4) a representative of each nonprofit organization
described by Section 114.052(4) that is part of the consortium,
designated by a majority of the members described by Subdivision
(1); and
(5) any other representative designated by a majority
of the members described by Subdivision (1) at the request of the
executive committee.
Sec. 114.102. VACANCY. A vacancy on the executive
committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
Sec. 114.103. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive committee
shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership of the
executive committee.
Sec. 114.104. GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee
shall:
(1) develop and implement policies, procedures, and
guidelines for the operation of the consortium;
(2) oversee the administration of the consortium,
including the use of money;
(3) solicit and evaluate applications and proposals
from the participating health-related institutions of higher
education and other entities applying for grants and contracts for
research, education, and health care services related to women's
health;
(4) establish criteria for awarding grants and
contracts for research, education, and health care services related
to women's health;
(5) provide technical assistance to the participating
health-related institutions of higher education and other entities
applying for grants and contracts for research, education, and
health care services related to women's health;
(6) establish a fellowship program for obstetrics and
gynecology physicians who have completed residency and are
interested in pursuing a career in women's health, with a focus on
serving underserved areas of this state;
(7) establish a program to fund residency positions
for obstetrics and gynecology physicians, with a focus on serving
underserved areas of this state;
(8) provide oversight and evaluation of the fellowship
program and residency position program; and
(9) report annually to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives on the
activities and achievements of the consortium.
Sec. 114.105. MEETINGS. The executive committee shall meet
at least quarterly or more frequently at the call of the presiding
officer.
SUBCHAPTER D. WOMEN'S HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 114.151. WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE EXPANSION. (a) The
executive committee may award grants to participating
health-related institutions of higher education to fund research,
education, and health care services related to women's health.
(b) The executive committee shall develop eligibility
criteria for participating institutions of higher education that
apply for grants under this section.
(c) The executive committee shall provide administrative
and technical support to a participating institution of higher
education that is awarded a grant under this section.
Sec. 114.152. WOMEN'S HEALTH PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIP. (a)
The executive committee may provide funding for women's health
physician fellowships, including for:
(1) obstetrics and gynecology physicians who have
completed a residency program and have a demonstrated interest in
providing women's health care services; and
(2) residency program positions for obstetrics and
gynecology physicians who have a demonstrated interest in providing
women's health care services.
(b) In awarding funding under Subsection (a), the executive
committee shall give priority to physicians serving in underserved
areas of this state.
(c) The executive committee shall develop eligibility
criteria for obstetrics and gynecology physicians applying for
fellowships under this section.
SUBCHAPTER E. WOMEN'S HEALTH MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS
Sec. 114.201. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH MOBILE HEALTH
CLINICS. The executive committee shall establish or expand
existing mobile health clinics at the participating health-related
institutions of higher education to provide health care services
for women in underserved areas of this state.
Sec. 114.202. REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS. Each
mobile health clinic established or expanded under this subchapter
must include licensed health care professionals, including at least
one obstetrics and gynecology or family medicine physician.
Sec. 114.203. MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES. A mobile
health clinic established or expanded under this subchapter shall
provide preventative health care services for women, including
cancer screenings, reproductive health care services, and
immunizations in person or by using telehealth services.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission, the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, and the members of the executive committee
described by Section 114.101(1), Health and Safety Code, as added
by this Act, shall make the appointments required by Section
114.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.