Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 749	Senate Author:  Kolkhorst
Effective:  6-10-19	House Sponsor:  Price et al.

            Senate Bill 749 amends the Health and Safety Code to expand the rules the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission must adopt, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), relating to hospital level of care designations for neonatal and maternal care and to provide for a strategic review and certain reports regarding the practical implementation of such rules. Among other provisions, the bill requires DSHS to establish a process for a hospital to appeal its level of care designation to an independent third party and provides for both a waiver from certain level of care designation requirements and a conditional designation. The bill removes the provision abolishing the perinatal advisory council under the Texas Sunset Act but requires the council to be reviewed during the period in which DSHS is reviewed under the act.