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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a pilot program to provide |
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telemedicine medical services to certain cancer patients receiving |
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pain management services and supportive palliative care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 44 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 44. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES |
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TO CERTAIN CANCER PATIENTS |
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Sec. 44.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Center" means The University of Texas M. D. |
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Anderson Cancer Center. |
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(2) "Health care provider" means a person other than a |
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physician who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by |
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the laws of this state to provide or render health care or to |
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dispense or prescribe a prescription drug in the ordinary course of |
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business or practice of a profession. |
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(3) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice |
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medicine in this state under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code. |
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(4) "Pilot program" means the pilot program |
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established under this chapter. |
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(5) "Supportive palliative care" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 142A.0001. |
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(6) "Telemedicine medical service" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 111.001, Occupations Code. |
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Sec. 44.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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center shall develop and implement a pilot program authorizing a |
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physician or other health care provider to prescribe, through a |
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telemedicine medical service, drugs for pain management or |
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supportive palliative care to a patient with a current or previous |
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cancer diagnosis and to provide other telemedicine medical services |
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to those patients. |
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(b) For purposes of a drug prescribed under the pilot |
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program, Section 481.07636 and any rule adopted by the Texas |
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Medical Board prohibiting or limiting the prescribing of opioids or |
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other treatment of chronic pain through the provision of a |
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telemedicine medical service do not apply. |
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Sec. 44.003. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2023, the |
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center shall prepare and submit to the legislature and the Texas |
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Medical Board a written report on the pilot program that includes: |
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(1) the number of patients who receive pain management |
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services or supportive palliative care through telemedicine |
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medical services under the pilot program; |
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(2) an estimate of patient attendance rates during the |
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two biennia preceding August 31, 2021, for scheduled in-person |
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visits compared to telemedicine medical service appointments for |
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pain management services or supportive palliative care; |
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(3) an evaluation of and recommendations for |
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improvements to the pilot program; and |
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(4) recommendations for the expansion of the pilot |
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program. |
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Sec. 44.004. EXPIRATION. The pilot program terminates and |
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this chapter expires August 31, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
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shall develop and implement the pilot program as required by |
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Chapter 44, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |