SRC-CDH S.B. 422 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 422 By: Cain Health & Human Services 2-14-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, with the growing number of mergers and affiliations, as well as the expansion of hospital services beyond a main building, questions have arisen regarding the breadth of a hospital license, primarily because requiring individual licensure for additional facilities located on or near the main hospital campus drives up health care costs. In addition, as the marketplace evolves, special hospitals, such as women's centers and rehabilitation hospitals, increasingly perform surgery related to the services provided by the facility, a function that is not presently recognized in Texas statutory law. This legislation amends the definition of hospital "premises" to allow a hospital to hold a single license for all facilities indicated at the main hospital address plus all other facilities within a 30-mile radius, with certain exceptions. S.B. 422 also clarifies that facilities licensed as "special hospitals" are allowed to provide obstretrical or surgical treatment. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 422 places the licensure of a hospital with multiple premises under a single license and expands the definition of "special hospital." 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 241.003, Health and Safety Code, by adding a new Subdivision (11), and renumbering and amending existing Subdivision (11), to define "premises" to mean facilities located at the main address of the licensee and all other facilities included under the single license so long as they are within a 30-mile radius of the main address of the licensee, except in certain circumstances. Redefines "special hospital" to include an establishment that has definitive obstetrical or surgical treatment. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Amends Section 241.022, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (f), to prohibit anything in this chapter from being construed to require a hospital to include offsite outpatient services in its license application. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.