79R7604 MCK-F

By:  Delisi                                                       H.B. No. 1856


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to distributing certain information collected by the Department of State Health Services to the public. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 108.006(a), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The council shall develop a statewide health care data collection system to collect health care charges, utilization data, provider quality data, and outcome data to facilitate the promotion and accessibility of cost-effective, good quality health care. The council shall: (1) direct the collection, dissemination, and analysis of data under this chapter; (2) contract with the department to collect the data under this chapter; (3) adopt policies and rules necessary to carry out this chapter, including rules concerning data collection requirements; (4) build on and not duplicate other data collection required by state or federal law, by an accreditation organization, or by board rule; (5) working with appropriate agencies, review public health data collection programs in this state and recommend, where appropriate, consolidation of the programs and any legislation necessary to effect the consolidation; (6) assure that public use data is made available and accessible to interested persons by posting the data on the Internet and by making the data available to the public on request; (7) prescribe by rule the process for providers to submit data consistent with Section 108.009; (8) adopt by rule and implement a methodology to collect and disseminate data reflecting provider quality in accordance with Section 108.010; (9) make reports to the legislature, the governor, and the public on: (A) the charges and rate of change in the charges for health care services in this state; (B) the effectiveness of the council in carrying out the legislative intent of this chapter; (C) if applicable, any recommendations on the need for further legislation; and (D) the quality and effectiveness of health care and access to health care for all citizens of this state; (10) develop an annual work plan and establish priorities to accomplish its duties; (11) provide consumer education on the interpretation and understanding of the public use or provider quality data before the data is disseminated to the public; (12) work with the Health and Human Services Commission and each health and human services agency that administers a part of the state Medicaid program to avoid duplication of expenditures of state funds for computer systems, staff, or services in the collection and analysis of data relating to the state Medicaid program; (13) work with the Department of Information Resources in developing and implementing the statewide health care data collection system and maintain consistency with Department of Information Resources standards; and (14) develop and implement a health care information plan to be used by the department to: (A) support public health and preventative health initiatives; (B) assist in the delivery of primary and preventive health care services; (C) facilitate the establishment of appropriate benchmark data to measure performance improvements; (D) establish and maintain a systematic approach to the collection, storage, and analysis of health care data for longitudinal, epidemiological, and policy impact studies; and (E) develop and use system-based protocols to identify individuals and populations at risk. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.