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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring an assessment by health care providers of the |
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risk of lead poisoning of certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 88.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 88.010. LEAD POISONING RISK ASSESSMENT. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Health care provider" means an individual or |
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facility licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to |
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administer health care, for profit or otherwise, in the ordinary |
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course of business or professional practice and includes a |
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physician. |
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(b) The department shall collect comprehensive data |
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regarding the risk of lead poisoning among children in this state. |
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(c) During an annual wellness exam a health care provider |
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shall assess, using the department's risk assessment for lead |
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exposure questionnaire, for lead poisoning a child who is younger |
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than seven years of age and: |
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(1) whose medical costs are covered under the Medicaid |
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program; or |
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(2) who lives in a targeted area designated by the |
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department as a high risk area for lead poisoning. |
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(d) A health care provider that conducts an assessment under |
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Subsection (c) shall report the results of the assessment to the |
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department on the form prescribed by the department. |
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(e) Not later than October 1, 2010, the department shall |
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submit to the legislature a written report regarding the data |
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collected under this section. The report must include an analysis |
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of the risk of lead poisoning by geographical area. |
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(f) This section expires December 31, 2010. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |