By Hilderbran                                   H.B. No. 2509

      75R8787 T                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to a pilot program for the treatment of Alzheimer's

 1-3     patients

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 32, Subchapter B, Human Resources Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Section 32.0246 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 32.0246.  PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S

 1-8     PATIENTS.  (a)  The Department of Human Services, in cooperation

 1-9     with all appropriate state and federal agencies and with the

1-10     advisory committee established in subsection (b), shall develop and

1-11     implement a pilot program for the treatment of individuals

1-12     diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  The pilot program shall:

1-13                 (1)  be operated in one rural county and one urban

1-14     county contiguous with the rural county;

1-15                 (2)  provide a continuum of care and comprehensive case

1-16     management, address gaps in services, and address the special needs

1-17     of Alzheimer's patients; and

1-18                 (3)  develop and implement counseling, education, and

1-19     support services for the caregivers and family members of

1-20     Alzheimer's patients.

1-21           (b)  The Department of Human Services shall appoint an

1-22     advisory committee to assist the department in developing and

1-23     implementing the pilot program.  The advisory committee shall be

1-24     composed of:

 2-1                 (1)  four representatives from groups that advocate for

 2-2     Alzheimer's patients;

 2-3                 (2)  one representative from an institution of higher

 2-4     education;

 2-5                 (3)  one clinician;

 2-6                 (4)  one representative from the Texas Department on

 2-7     Aging;

 2-8                 (5)  one representative from the Texas Department of

 2-9     Human Services; and

2-10                 (6)  one representative from the Texas Department of

2-11     Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

2-12           (c)  The pilot program may not make eligible for medical

2-13     assistance any individual not otherwise eligible for medical

2-14     assistance.

2-15           (d)  The Department of Human Services may seek and accept a

2-16     gift, grant, or donation from any person for purposes of developing

2-17     and implementing the pilot program provided that the person does

2-18     not have a contested case pending before any agency participating

2-19     in the pilot program.

2-20           (e)  Not later than January 15, 1999, the Department of Human

2-21     Services shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the

2-22     effectiveness of the pilot program.

2-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-25     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-26     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-27     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.