By Wohlgemuth                                         H.B. No. 2630
         77R7713 JAT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the study of disease management programs for
 1-3     tuberculosis in the Texas-Mexico border region.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Health and Safety Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 13.046 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 13.046.  DISEASE MANAGEMENT PILOT STUDY.  (a)  The
 1-8     department by rule shall establish a pilot study to compare
 1-9     preventative disease management methods for treating tuberculosis
1-10     with traditional methods of treating the disease.
1-11           (b)  The department shall conduct the pilot study in the
1-12     Texas-Mexico border region, as that term is defined by Section
1-13     2056.002, Government Code.
1-14           (c)  In conducting the pilot study the department shall use
1-15     disease management techniques that are transferable to private
1-16     practice and to other geographical areas of the state.
1-17           (d)  The pilot study may measure the following outcomes:
1-18                 (1)  school and work absenteeism;
1-19                 (2)  hospitalization;
1-20                 (3)  impact of the disease on the family; and
1-21                 (4)  economic effects of the disease, including:
1-22                       (A)  income lost as a result of days missed from
1-23     work; and
1-24                       (B)  income lost by schools as a result of
 2-1     student absenteeism.
 2-2           (e)  Not later than November 1, 2002, the department shall
 2-3     submit to the legislature an interim written report containing the
 2-4     findings of the pilot study.
 2-5           (f)  Not later than November 1, 2003, the department shall
 2-6     submit to the legislature a final written report containing the
 2-7     findings of the pilot study and the department's recommendations.
 2-8           (g)  This section expires September 1, 2005.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  If before implementing Section 1 of this Act the
2-10     Texas Department of Health determines that a waiver or
2-11     authorization from a federal agency is necessary for
2-12     implementation, the appropriate department shall request the waiver
2-13     or authorization and may delay implementing those provisions until
2-14     the waiver or authorization is granted.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect only if a specific
2-16     appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in
2-17     H.B. No. 1 (General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 77th
2-18     Legislature, Regular Session, 2001.  If no specific appropriation
2-19     is provided in H.B. No. 1 (General Appropriations Act), this Act
2-20     has no effect.
2-21           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.