SRC-CDH C.S.S.B. 422 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 422
By: Cain
Health & Human Services
2-18-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


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 pediatric 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 mean
either a single building or multiple buildings where inpatients receive
hospital services, provided that certain conditions are met, in an effort
to allow a hospital to hold a single license for multiple on-site
facilities.  S.B. 422 also defines "comprehensive medical rehabilitation
hospital" and "pediatric and adolescent hospital" to clarify these
facilities' ability to provide surgery and related ancillary services.     

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 422 establishes the licensure of a hospital with
multiple premises under a single license; and defines "comprehensive
medical rehabilitation hospital," "pediatric and adolescent hospital," and
"premises." 

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, to define
"comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital" to mean a general hospital
that specializes in providing medical rehabilitation services, including
surgery and related ancillary services.  Defines "pediatric and adolescent
hospital" to mean a general hospital that specializes in providing
services to children and adolescents, including surgery and related
ancillary services.  Defines "premises" to mean a single building where
inpatients receive hospital services; or multiple buildings where
inpatients receive hospital services, provided that certain conditions are
met.  Makes conforming changes.     

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 241.022, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to prohibit a hospital from including offsite outpatient
services in its license application.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 241.026, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to provide that a comprehensive medical rehabilitation
hospital or a pediatric and adolescent hospital is required to have an
emergency treatment room, but is not required to have an emergency
department.   

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.  
  Effective date:  upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends SECTION 1, Section 241.003, Health and Safety Code, to define
"comprehensive medical  rehabilitation hospital" and "pediatric and
adolescent hospital."  Redefines "premises" to clarify which hospital
buildings qualify as on-site premises.  Deletes the amendment to the
definition of "special hospital."   

Amends SECTION 2, Section 241.022, Health and Safety Code, to prohibit a
hospital from including offsite outpatient services in its license
application, rather than prohibiting anything in this chapter from being
construed to require a hospital to do the same. 

Amends SECTION 3, by deleting the effective date and amending Section
241.026, Health and Safety Code, to require a comprehensive medical
rehabilitation or a pediatric and adolescent hospital to have an emergency
treatment room, but not an emergency department. 

Adds SECTION 4, to include a revised effective date.