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.