By Delisi                                       H.B. No. 2384

      75R7361 CLG-D                           

                                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 consult with

 1-9     and seek input from representatives of the following entities or

1-10     organizations located in the community as defined by Subsection

1-11     (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 meet at

1-23     least quarterly with representatives of the entities and

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

 2-1     needs of the community and population served by the nonprofit

 2-2     hospital.

 2-3           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-9     passage, and it is so enacted.