SRC-MKV S.B. 93 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 93
By: Nelson
Health and Human Services
3/12/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 93 requires the Center for Rural Health Initiatives
(center) to coordinate with various agencies to assist in evaluating
existing telemedicine programs and policies, and it requires the center to
ensure the appropriate development and use of telecommunications and
technology in health care settings. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 106.025 (a), Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subdivisions (18) (20), to require the Center for Rural Health Initiatives
(center) to develop a uniform definition for telemedicine that provides for
the use of certain forms of advanced technology; ensure the appropriate
development and use of telecommunications and technology in health care
settings; and coordinate with various agencies to assist in evaluating
telemedicine programs and policy. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter H, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER H.  RURAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

 Section 106.251.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "rural county."

Section 106.252.  HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. Authorizes
the center to use money appropriated to the center to make a grant to a
rural county to recruit and retain health care professionals to work in the
county. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 57.042 (11), Utilities Code, to redefine
"telemedicine." 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 531.0217, Government Code, to redefine "rural
health facility." Deletes language which sets parameters regarding which
physicians could be reimbursed by Medicaid for telemedical consultations. 

SECTION 5. Requires the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a cost analysis
that projects the costs of including pharmacists, occupational therapists,
physical therapists, and mental health providers in the list of health
professionals eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursements for telemedicine
services. 

SECTION 6.  Provides that if before implementing any provision of this Act
the agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency
is necessary, the affected agency is required to request the waiver or
authorization and authorizes a delay in implementing that provision until
the waiver or authorization is granted. 

 SECTION 7.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.