SRC-CDH S.B. 600 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 600
By: Harris
Health & Human Services
3-7-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law provides for the careful and confidential transfer of
data concerning precancerous and tumorous diseases by hospitals, clinical
laboratories, and cancer treatment centers to the Texas Board of Health,
but does not specifically provide for the sharing of data between cancer
registries.  However, cancer registries contribute to cancer research by
enabling hospitals and other health care professionals to document the
results of their management of cancer patients and providing data used to
evaluate survival rates and patient treatment outcomes.  This legislation
clarifies that cancer registries can share patient information with other
cancer registries to be used in studies to reduce morbidity or mortality
or to identify persons needing immunization.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 600 establishes the collection and use of certain
information by cancer registries. 

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 82.008, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (e), to authorize the data concerning cancer and precancerous
and tumorous diseases which is required to be furnished by hospitals,
clinical laboratories, and cancer treatment centers to the Texas Board of
Health or its representatives, to be furnished only to cancer registries
of hospitals as well.   

SECTION 2. Amends Section 82.009, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (d), to provide that data obtained under this chapter from the
medical records of a patient and furnished to a hospital cancer registry
under Section 82.008(e) is for the confidential use of the hospital cancer
registry and is subject to Subsection (a).   

SECTION 3. Amends Section 161.021(a), Health and Safety Code, to include a
cancer registry among the list of entities and individuals to whom a
person or organization may provide interviews, reports, or other
information relating to the condition and treatment of any person to be
used in a study to reduce morbidity or mortality or to identify persons
needing immunization. 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 161.022(a), Health and Safety Code, to include a
cancer registry among the list of entities authorized to use or publish
information under Section 161.021 to advance only medical research or
education, with certain exceptions. 

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.