1-1 By: Maxey, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Shapleigh) H.B. No. 2017 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 1997; 1-3 May 9, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 1-4 and Human Services; May 17, 1997, reported adversely, with 1-5 favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 1-6 0; May 17, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2017 By: Moncrief 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to telemedicine services provided under the Medicaid and 1-11 Medicare programs. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is 1-14 amended by adding Section 531.0215 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 531.0215. PARTICIPATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF 1-16 TELEMEDICINE SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAID. (a) The 1-17 commission by rule shall develop and implement a system to 1-18 reimburse providers of services under the state Medicaid program 1-19 for services performed using telemedicine. 1-20 (b) In developing the system, the commission shall: 1-21 (1) review programs and pilot projects in other states 1-22 to determine the most effective method for reimbursement; 1-23 (2) establish billing codes and a fee schedule for 1-24 services; and 1-25 (3) provide for an approval process before a provider 1-26 can receive reimbursement for services. 1-27 (c) The commission shall encourage teaching hospitals, small 1-28 rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and 1-29 state-owned health care facilities to participate as telemedicine 1-30 service providers in the health care delivery system. 1-31 (d) In this section, "telemedicine" has the meaning assigned 1-32 by Section 3.606, Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995 (Article 1-33 1446c-0, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). 1-34 SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date 1-35 of this Act, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, with the 1-36 cooperation of the Health and Human Services Commission, shall 1-37 contact the Health Care Financing Administration regarding approval 1-38 of the federal waiver submitted before the effective date of this 1-39 Act to allow Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to 1-40 receive reimbursement under the federal research and demonstration 1-41 project for telemedicine services provided under the Medicare 1-42 program. 1-43 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-44 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-45 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-46 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-47 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-48 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-49 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-50 * * * * *