SRC-JEC S.B. 1483 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1483
77R8585 YDB-FBy: Duncan
Health & Human Services
4/2/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The rural Texas-Mexico border areas of Texas are typically medically
underserved and tend to have lower Medicaid reimbursement rates.  As
proposed, S.B. 1483 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to
create and administer telemedicine pilot programs in border areas to
enhance health care services and provide for reimbursement and regulation
of telemedicine services. 

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 Chapter 531B, Government Code, by adding Sections
531.02171 and 531.02172, as follows: 

Sec. 531.02171.  TELEMEDICINE PILOT PROGRAMS.  (a)  Defines "telemedicine
medical service." 

(b)  Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to
establish pilot programs in designated areas of this state under which the
commission, in administering government-funded health programs, may
reimburse a health care professional participating in the pilot program for
telemedicine medical services authorized under the licensing law applicable
to the health care professional.  Requires each pilot program established
before January 1, 2003, to be operated in areas of this state that are not
more than 150 miles from the border between this state and the United
Mexican States. 

(c)  Requires the commission, in developing and operating a pilot program
under this section, to: 

(1)  solicit and obtain support for the program from local officials and
the medical community; 

(2)  focus on enhancing health outcomes in the area served by the pilot
program through increased access to medical services, including certain
medical services; 

(3)  establish quantifiable measures and expected health outcomes for each
authorized telemedicine medical service; 

(4)  consider condition-specific applications of telemedicine medical
services, including applications for certain medical conditions; and 

(5)  demonstrate that the provision of services authorized as telemedicine
medical services will not adversely affect the provision of traditional
medical services within the  area served by the pilot program. 

Sec. 531.02172.  TELEMEDICINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)  Requires the
commissioner of health and human services (commissioner) to establish an
advisory committee to assist the commission in: 

  (1)  evaluating policies for telemedical consultations under Section
531.0217; 

(2)  evaluating policies for telemedicine medical service pilot programs
established under Section 531.02171; 

(3)  ensuring the efficient and consistent development and use of
telecommunication technology for telemedical consultations and telemedicine
medical services reimbursed under government-funded health programs; 

(4)  monitoring the type of programs receiving reimbursement under Section
531.0217 and 531.02171; and 

(5)  coordinating the activities of state agencies concerned with the use
of telemedical consultations and telemedicine medical services. 

 (b)  Sets forth the required composition of the advisory committee.
  
(c)  Provides that a member of the advisory committee serves at the will of
the commissioner. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 57C, Utilities Code, by adding Section 57.0471,
as follows: 

Sec. 57.0471.  GRANTS TO CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.  Provides that a
health care facility providing telemedicine medical services and
participating in a pilot program under Section 531.02171, Government Code,
is eligible to receive a grant under Section 57.047. 

SECTION 3.  Repealer:  Section 531.0217(h) (regarding an advisory
committee), Government Code. 

SECTION 4.  (a)  Requires  the commissioner of health and human services to
establish the telemedical consultation advisory committee as required by
Section 531.02172, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
December 31, 2001. 

(b)  Requires the advisory committee established under Section 531.02172,
Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2003, to
prepare a report relating to the implementation of the pilot programs
established under Section 531.02171, as added by this Act, and to provide
the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the senate and
house of representatives. 

SECTION 5.  Provides that the advisory committee established under Section
531.0217(h), Government Code, is abolished on the effective date of this
Act. 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.