SRC-JLB, MLC, TAG S.B. 56 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 56
78R1427 JTS-DBy: Zaffirini
Health and Human Services
4/4/2003
As Filed

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, primary care and rural health clinics are closing because of a
lack of population density to support and sustain a full- or part-time
clinic.  As a result, these communities suffer from lack of a stable
workforce, lack of a full time public health office, and increased need
for medical transportation.  As proposed, S.B. 56 provides coordinated
access to public and private healthcare and a model for financial
sustainability of those health care delivery sites, particularly in
communities of low population density or under-served populations. 

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 487C, Government Code, by adding Section
487.059, as follows: 

Section 487.059.  RURAL HEALTH CENTERS.   Provides that in this section
"rural county" has the definition assigned by Section 487.301
(Definitions).  

(b)  Requires the Office of Rural Community Affairs (office),  in
cooperation with the Texas Department of Health, the Health and Human
Services Commission, the public health department in rural counties, and
the statewide rural health care system designated under Chapter 845
(Statewide Rural Health Care System), Insurance Code, to establish
regional health centers in rural counties to coordinate the delivery of
health care to residents.     

(c)  Requires each agency listed in Subsection (b) to provide services
covered by programs of the agency to residents of rural counties from the
regional health centers.  Requires each agency to contract with health
care professionals to work from the  regional center to provide health
services to the rural resident of those counties.  Requires the health
care professional providing services at a rural health center to be
eligible to serve the residents who are enrolled in federal and agency
programs.   

(d)  Requires the office to report to the legislature regarding the
efficacy of rural health centers as part of the office's report to the
legislature under Section 487.056 (Report to Legislature). 

SECTION 2.  Requires the office, by January 1, 2004, after having
consulted with the appropriate health care agencies, to choose three or
four sites to serve as rural health centers as required by Section
487.059, Government Code, as added by this Act.  Authorizes the office to
designate additional sites as rural health centers if it determines, as
reported in its annual report delivered to the legislature on January 1,
2005, that the rural health centers are effective in coordinating health
care services to residents of rural counties. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.