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.