By Delisi                                             H.B. No. 2384

         75R11996 CLG-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the provision of charity care, indigent health care,

 1-3     and other community benefits by certain nonprofit hospitals.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 311.044, Health and Safety Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

 1-7           (d)  In determining the community-wide needs assessment

 1-8     required by Subsection (b), a nonprofit hospital shall consider

 1-9     consulting with and seeking input from representatives of the

1-10     following entities or organizations located in the community as

1-11     defined by Subsection (b):

1-12                 (1)  the local health department;

1-13                 (2)  the public health region under Chapter 121;

1-14                 (3)  the public health district;

1-15                 (4)  health-related organizations, including a health

1-16     professional association or hospital association;

1-17                 (5)  health science centers;

1-18                 (6)  private business;

1-19                 (7)  local governments; and

1-20                 (8)  insurance companies and managed care organizations

1-21     with an active market presence in the community.

1-22           (e)  Representatives of a nonprofit hospital shall consider

1-23     meeting with representatives of the entities and organizations

1-24     listed in  Subsection (d) to assess the health care needs of the

 2-1     community and population served by the nonprofit hospital.

 2-2           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.