BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1477 By: Madla (Van de Putte) 05-11-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Hospices traditionally attempt to provide services to their patients in a home setting. When individuals select the Medicaid/Medicare Hospice Benefit, they waive their right to hospitalization. A hospice, however, must provide acute care as needed by a patient. Some hospices have built, or are in the process of building, free-standing in-patient facilities to care for the special needs of these patients. The level of care required by patients in such facilities necessitates the ability to change medication rapidly in order to control symptoms. These facilities are licensed under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code, and have the same need as do hospitals for an institutional pharmacy located on the premises. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1477 expands the definition of "Class C pharmacy license" or "institutional pharmacy license" to include a license issued to certain hospice inpatient facilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sec. 5(7), Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, V.T.C.S.), defining a "class C pharmacy license" or "institutional pharmacy license," to add that it means a license issued to a hospice in-patient facility that is licensed under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 1477 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a formal meeting on May 11, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, and 1 ABSENT.