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.