By:  Zaffirini                                                            S.B. No. 56



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of rural health centers.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 487.059 to read as follows:
	Sec. 487.059.  RURAL HEALTH CENTERS.  (a) In this section 
"rural county" has the definition assigned by Section 487.301.
	(b)  The office, with cooperation from the Texas Department 
of Health, the Health and Human Services Commission, the statewide 
rural health care system designated under Chapter 845, Insurance 
Code, and public health departments in rural counties, shall 
establish regional health centers in rural counties to coordinate 
the delivery of health care to residents of rural counties.
	(c)  Each agency listed in Subsection (b) shall provide 
services covered by programs of the agency to residents of rural 
counties from the regional health centers.  Each agency shall 
contract with health care professionals to work from each regional 
health center to provide services to residents of the rural 
counties served by the center.  Health care professionals providing 
services at a rural health center must be eligible to serve 
residents who are enrolled in federal and agency programs, 
including:
		(1)  the federal supplemental nutrition program for 
women, infants, and children under 42 U.S.C. Section 1786, as 
amended;
		(2)  the state child health plan under Chapter 62, 
Health and Safety Code;
		(3)  the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, 
Human Resources Code; and
		(4)  the Medicare program.                                             
	(d)  The office shall 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.
	SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2004, the Office of 
Rural Community Affairs, after consulting with the Texas Department 
of Health, the Health and Human Services Commission, the statewide 
rural health care system, and public health departments in rural 
counties, shall choose three or four sites to serve as rural health 
centers as required by Section 487.059,  Government Code, as added 
by this Act.
	(b)  The Office of Rural Community Affairs may designate 
additional sites as rural health centers if the office 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.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.