S.B. 43 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 43
By: Zaffirini
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)

    

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Pediatric Society, in partnership with Baylor College of
Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital of Houston, has received a grant
funded by both the Texas Department of Health (TDH) and the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pilot a Houston-based
physician-tophysician immunization education program known as Educating
Physicians In your Community (EPIC).  EPIC's mission is to improve the
health of children through community-based medical education.  EPIC aims
to provide quality, practical education to all members of a provider's
office, including medical, nursing, and support staff.  EPIC's functions
include the education and evaluation of 100 pediatric and family medicine
practices as well as an assessment of the program in the form of a final
report. 

As proposed, S.B. 43 would require the Texas Department of Health to
provide a final report on EPIC and, if the pilot program is successful, to
make recommendation for its expansion, costeffectiveness, and future
funding.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution.  

ANALYSIS

The proposed bill requires the Texas Department of Health to report to the
legislature no later than October 1, 2005, the results of the educating
physicians in your community pilot program operated by the Texas Pediatric
Society.  The proposed bill sets out specific items that must be included
in the report.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003