By Maxey H.B. No. 392 77R1127 SMJ-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to certain communications with the primary care provider 1-3 of a person admitted to a state mental health facility. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 572, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Section 572.0026 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 572.0026. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. 1-8 (a) If a person admitted to a mental health facility has a primary 1-9 care provider, on admission facility staff shall ask the person or, 1-10 if applicable, the person's authorized representative to give 1-11 written consent for the facility to: 1-12 (1) notify the primary care provider of the person's 1-13 admission; and 1-14 (2) discuss information directly related to the 1-15 admission with the primary care provider. 1-16 (b) If the person or the person's representative gives 1-17 written consent under Subsection (a), facility staff: 1-18 (1) shall notify the primary care provider of the 1-19 person's admission; and 1-20 (2) may discuss information directly related to the 1-21 admission with the primary care provider. 1-22 (c) The board shall adopt rules governing obtaining consent 1-23 and communicating with a primary care provider under this section. 1-24 SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 573, Health and Safety Code, 2-1 is amended by adding Section 573.0225 to read as follows: 2-2 Sec. 573.0225. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. 2-3 Facility staff shall ask for written consent and, if applicable, 2-4 communicate with a person's primary care provider in the manner 2-5 provided by Section 572.0026. 2-6 SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 574, Health and Safety Code, 2-7 is amended by adding Section 574.049 to read as follows: 2-8 Sec. 574.049. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. 2-9 Facility staff shall ask for written consent and, if applicable, 2-10 communicate with a person's primary care provider in the manner 2-11 provided by Section 572.0026. 2-12 SECTION 4. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 2-13 only to an admission to a mental health facility under Chapter 572, 2-14 573, or 574, Health and Safety Code, on or after the effective date 2-15 of this Act. 2-16 (b) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.