BILL ANALYSIS
By: Woolley
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
House Bill 916 creates the Governor's Health Care Coordinating Council. The goal of the Council is to bring together relevant affected parties in an attempt to identify and fix problems in the private and public health care system. The Council will identify gaps, flaws, inefficiencies, or problems in the health care system that create systemic or substantial negative impacts on participants in the health care system, study these problems, and identify possible solutions. Additionally, the Council will provide research and analysis on issues presented to the Council by the Governor and will submit its findings to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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
Amends Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 113, as follows:
Defines "council."
Provides that the council is within the office of the governor and provides for the composition of the council. Service on the council is an additional duty of a member's office or employment and that a member of the council is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement of certain expenses.
Provides that the council shall meet at least once each year. Further provides that the council may meet at other times at the call of the presiding officer or as provided by the rules of the council. The council is a governmental body for purposes of the open meetings law.
Provides that the council shall, subject to Governor approval, hire a director to serve as the chief executive officer of the council and to perform administrative duties of the council. The director serves at the will of the council. Authorizes the director to hire staff within the guidelines established by the council.
Provides that the director or the director's designee prepare and maintain a written policy statement that implements a program of equal employment opportunity. Provides that the policy statement must include certain criteria. The policy statement must be updated annually, be reviewed by the civil rights division of the Texas Workforce Commission, and be filed with the governor's office. The director or the director's designee provide to the members of the council and to council employees certain information regarding the requirements for office or employment under this chapter.
Provides that the council shall identify certain gaps, flaws, inefficiencies, or problems in the health care system, to study these problems, and to identify possible solutions. The speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant governor are authorized to submit health care related issues to the governor for referral to the council.
Provides that the Governor refer health care related issues to the council for research and analysis. The council shall study the issues identified by the governor and identify possible solutions and shall submit a report of the council's findings and recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. The council shall facilitate and promote the use of technology in the health care system as well as monitor, research, and promote initiatives relating to patient safety and the use of telemedicine and telehealth. The council shall establish a clearinghouse of information to assist communities in assessing the needs of local health care systems and shall investigate the best way to collect, compare, and communicate information to local communities.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage or September 1, 2005