BG C.S.H.B. 2384 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS PUBLIC HEALTH C.S.H.B. 2384 By: Delisi 4-25-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Nonprofit hospitals are required to develop a community benefits plan. In the development of its community benefits plan, a hospital must consider the health care needs of the community as determined by a community-wide needs assessment. The hospital is required to include mechanisms to evaluate the plan's effectiveness, including a method for soliciting the views of the communities served by the hospital. Current law does not specify the nature of the community-wide needs assessments by nonprofit hospitals. Gathering input from many health-related organizations and entities would benefit the community. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 2384 requires nonprofit hospitals to consult with, seek input from, and meet at least quarterly with representatives of health-related organizations and entities within the communities they serve. 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. 311.044, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsections (d) and (e), as follows: Subsection (d) requires a nonprofit hospital to consider consulting with and seeking input from representatives of specified entities or organizations located in the community when determining the community-wide needs assessment required under this section. Subsection (e) requires representatives of a nonprofit hospital to consider meeting with representatives of the entities and organizations listed in Subsection (d) to assess the health care needs of the community and population served by the nonprofit hospital. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE CSHB 2384 modifies the original bill's requirements for consultation and meetings with specified organizational and community representatives by instead requiring a nonprofit hospital to consider doing such activities to get input about the health care needs of the community and population served by the nonprofit hospital.