Bill Text: TX SB73 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to providing access to local public health entities and certain health service regional offices under Medicaid.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB73 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB73-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 73

AN ACT
relating to providing access to local public health entities and
certain health service regional offices under Medicaid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 32.003, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subdivisions (2), (3), (3-a), and (5) to read as follows:
(2) "Local health department" means a local health
department established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121, Health and
Safety Code.
(3) "Local health unit" means a local health unit
described by Section 121.004, Health and Safety Code.
(3-a) "Local public health entity" means:
(A) a local health unit;
(B) a local health department; and
(C) a public health district.
(5) "Public health district" means a public health
district established under Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Health and
Safety Code.
SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (ll) to read as follows:
(ll) The executive commissioner shall establish a separate
provider type for a local public health entity for purposes of
enrollment as a provider for and reimbursement under the medical
assistance program.
SECTION 3. Section 32.101(2), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Health care provider" means a person, other than
a physician, who:
(A) is licensed or otherwise authorized to
provide a health care service in this state, including:
(i) a pharmacist, dentist, optometrist,
mental health counselor, social worker, advanced practice nurse,
physician assistant, or durable medical equipment supplier; [or]
(ii) a pharmacy, hospital, or other
institution or organization; or
(iii) a local public health entity;
(B) is wholly owned or controlled by:
(i) a health care provider or a group of
health care providers described by Paragraph (A); or
(ii) one or more hospitals and physicians,
including a physician-hospital organization;
(C) is a professional association of physicians
organized under the Texas Professional Association Law, as
described by Section 1.008, Business Organizations Code;
(D) is an approved nonprofit health corporation
certified under Chapter 162, Occupations Code;
(E) is a medical and dental unit, as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code, a medical school, as defined by
Section 61.501, Education Code, or a health science center
described by Subchapter K, Chapter 74, Education Code, that employs
or contracts with physicians to teach or provide medical services,
or employs physicians and contracts with physicians in a practice
plan; or
(F) is another person wholly owned by physicians.
SECTION 4. The Health and Human Services Commission and the
Department of State Health Services are required to implement a
provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commission and
the department may, but are not required to, implement a provision
of this Act using other appropriations that are available for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 73 passed the Senate on
April 12, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 73 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 109,
Nays 36, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor