By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 289
         77R2002 DLF-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the advisory committee to the Health and Human Services
 1-3     Commission on telemedical consultation.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 531.02171 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 531.02171.  TELEMEDICAL CONSULTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
 1-8     (a)  The commissioner shall establish an advisory committee to
 1-9     assist the commission in:
1-10                 (1)  evaluating policies for telemedical consultations
1-11     under Section 531.0217;
1-12                 (2)  ensuring the appropriate development and use of
1-13     telecommunications and technology for telemedical consultations
1-14     reimbursed under the Medicaid program;
1-15                 (3)  monitoring the type of programs receiving
1-16     reimbursement under Section 531.0217; and
1-17                 (4)  coordinating the activities of state agencies
1-18     concerned with the use of telemedical consultations in the Medicaid
1-19     program.
1-20           (b)  The advisory committee must include:
1-21                 (1)  representatives of  health and human services
1-22     agencies and other state agencies concerned with the use of
1-23     telemedical consultations in the Medicaid program, including
1-24     representatives of:
 2-1                       (A)  the commission;
 2-2                       (B)  the Texas Department of Health;
 2-3                       (C)  the Center for Rural Health Initiatives;
 2-4                       (D)  the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund
 2-5     Board;
 2-6                       (E)  the Texas Department of Insurance;
 2-7                       (F)  the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
 2-8                       (G)  the Board of Nurse Examiners; and
 2-9                       (H)  the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
2-10                 (2)  representatives of  health science centers in this
2-11     state;
2-12                 (3)  experts on telemedicine and telemedical
2-13     consultation; and
2-14                 (4)  representatives of consumers of health services
2-15     provided through telemedical consultations.
2-16           SECTION 2.  Section 531.0217(h) is repealed.
2-17           SECTION 3.  (a)  Not later than December 31, 2001, the
2-18     commissioner of health and human services shall establish the
2-19     telemedical consultation advisory committee as required by Section
2-20     531.02171, Government Code, as added by this Act.
2-21           (b)  Not later than September 1, 2003, the advisory committee
2-22     established under Section 531.02171, Government Code, as added by
2-23     this Act, shall prepare a report relating to  the use of
2-24     telemedical consultations under the Medicaid program and shall
2-25     provide the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of
2-26     the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees
2-27     of the senate and house of representatives.
 3-1           SECTION 4.  The advisory committee established under Section
 3-2     531.0217(h), Government Code, is abolished on the effective date of
 3-3     this Act.
 3-4           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.