SRC-CDH C.S.H.B. 1716 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1716 By: Maxey (Zaffirini) Health & Human Services 5-15-97 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, Texas spends a significant portion of its budget for health care related services, including medical education, state employee health care services, and health care for needy Texans. But Texas does not have an effective health planning system to allocate state funds and coordinate the strategic efforts of agencies responsible for educating health professionals and providing health care services. The statewide health coordinating council (council), created in 1974, is responsible for developing a state health plan to guide policy makers in creating cost-effective health policies and programs as well as identifying resources needed to carry out these programs. The council's current membership, however, does not represent all the stakeholders in the health care delivery system, nor does it include all state agencies responsible for health education and health care delivery. In addition, the council does not have adequate staff support. The health data needed for the council to do comprehensive analysis are scattered among various state agencies and collected and updated in irregular intervals which could affect the data integrity. C.S.H.B. 1716 enhances state health planning by increasing the membership of the council and by providing it with additional staff. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.H.B. 1716 provides for the membership and duties of the statewide health coordinating council. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 104.011, Health and Safety Code, to provide that the statewide health coordinating council (council) is composed of 17, rather than 15 members, including certain persons. Requires the appointments of the governor to be with the advice and consent of the senate. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 104B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 104.015, as follows: Sec. 104.015. ADVISORY BOARDS AND AD HOC COMMITTEES. Authorizes the council to form advisory boards or ad hoc committees composed of health care experts from the public and private sectors to review policy matters related to the council's purpose. SECTION 3. Amends Section 105.001, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 105.001. New heading: DEFINITIONS. Defines "council." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 4. Amends Section 105.002, Health and Safety Code, to require the council, rather than the Texas Department of Health (department), to establish a comprehensive health professions resource center. SECTION 5. Amends Section 105.003, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 6. Amends Section 105.004, Health and Safety Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 7. Amends Section 105.007, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 8. Amends Chapter 104D, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 104.0421, as follows: Sec. 104.0421. STATEWIDE DATA COLLECTION AND COORDINATION. Requires the council to work with appropriate health professional licensing agencies to develop uniform standards for health professional data collected by those agencies. Sets forth the terms by which the council is required to retrieve data on health professionals from the appropriate licensing agencies. Requires the council to monitor and evaluate long-term regional, statewide, and local health needs; use data collected to develop workforce goals and recommend the appropriate level and distribution of state funding for education and training; evaluate the effects of the recommendations; and improve coordination of statewide health planning. Authorizes the council to seek the assistance of certain entities. Sets forth the terms by which the department is required to continue to assist the council and the health professions resource center with the development of the state health plan. Requires the staff of the Bureau of State Health Data and Policy Analysis to continue to assist the council. SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 10. Provides that the council that existed immediately before the effective date of this Act is abolished on the effective date of this Act. Sets forth the terms by which the governor is required to appoint the initial members of the council as reconstituted by this Act. SECTION 11. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 104.011, Health and Safety Code, to provide that the statewide health coordinating council is composed of 17 members, including four public members, rather than four consumer advocates.