BG S.B. 751 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC HEALTH
S.B. 751
By: Moncrief (Burnam)
4-17-97
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND 

The psychiatric hospital reforms passed into law during the 73rd
Legislature included a provision aimed at providers which were
transporting fraudulently referred clients to their facilities.  The
legislation was not intended to include non-psychiatric hospitals which
provide free transportation as a community service.  Currently, the
language of this provision could be construed to prohibit benign activity
such as bringing in low-income elderly individuals for free blood pressure
screening.  
PURPOSE

SB 751 clarifies Section 161.091, Health and Safety Code, so that it is
not construed to prohibit the provision of transportation to adult
patients under specified conditions outside the area of mental health. 

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 Section 161.091, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsections (g) and (h) as follows: 

Subsection (g) requires that this section not be construed to prohibit
transportation for health care services to adult patients as long as the
service is valued at no more than $20, and does not involve transportation
to a mental health facility. 

Subsection (h) defines "health care services" for the purpose of
subsection (g) as specified.  
SECTION 2.  Establishes that the effective date of this Act is September
1, 1997. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.