79R3375 UM-D
By: Uresti H.B. No. 799
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of an online medical passport for foster
children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.117. ONLINE MEDICAL PASSPORT. (a) The department
shall develop and implement an Internet-based medical passport for
each foster child. The passport must be maintained in an electronic
format and use the department's existing computer resources to the
greatest extent possible.
(b) The medical passport must include:
(1) the name and address of each of the child's health
care providers;
(2) a record of each visit to a health care provider,
including routine checkups conducted in accordance with the Texas
Health Steps program;
(3) an immunization record;
(4) a list of the child's known medical problems;
(5) information on all medications prescribed to the
child; and
(6) any other medical history that the department
determines is important.
(c) The Internet-based system used to access the medical
passport must:
(1) be secure and maintain the confidentiality of the
child's medical records;
(2) be accessible from any computer that has access to
the Internet, without requiring the purchase by a physician or
other health care provider of additional hardware or software; and
(3) allow a physician or other health care provider to
update the passport from the Internet.
(d) The passport shall be part of the department's record
for the child as long as the child remains in foster care.
(e) The department shall provide training or instructional
materials to foster parents, physicians, and other health care
providers regarding use of the medical passport.
(f) To the extent possible, the department shall ensure that
the medical passport is operated in coordination with fraud
prevention activities conducted by the department or the Health and
Human Services Commission.
SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2006, the Department of
Family and Protective Services shall implement the online medical
passport required by Section 264.117, Family Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.