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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to indigent health care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that this state has a |
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responsibility to ensure that indigent residents who do not have |
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health insurance, cannot afford to pay for health care, and do not |
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qualify for medical assistance through the state or federal |
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government have access to the basic services necessary to maintain |
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good health. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall adopt rules relating to improving |
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the indigent health care services provided throughout this state, |
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including rules relating to: |
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(1) contracts with health care entities for provision |
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of indigent health care services; |
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(2) requiring health care facilities, including |
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public and private hospitals, to implement an indigent health care |
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program in accordance with standards developed by the executive |
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commissioner; |
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(3) expanding eligibility for indigent health care |
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services by various methods, including raising the income level for |
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eligibility; |
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(4) maximizing available state and federal funding to |
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be used for provision of indigent health care, including federal |
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stimulus money and money for health care information technology; |
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(5) utilizing available private funding for provision |
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of indigent health care; |
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(6) increasing spending on indigent health care by |
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matching county funds with state funds; |
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(7) expanding the range of services offered to |
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indigent patients through an indigent health care program, |
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including dental services, physical therapy, and occupational |
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therapy; |
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(8) increasing access to preventative treatment, |
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including dental treatment, vaccinations, regular physical |
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examinations, and routine screenings for health conditions, to |
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lower the cost of emergency treatment; |
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(9) developing incentives for providers of indigent |
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health care to provide a wider variety of optional services; |
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(10) regulations for federally qualified health |
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centers to assist those entities in providing indigent health care |
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as efficiently as possible; |
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(11) outcome-based performance standards for indigent |
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health care designed to improve the quality of care and lower the |
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cost of care; |
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(12) educational programs to assist a recipient of |
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indigent health care to enroll in any health-related program |
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administered by this state or the federal government for which the |
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person is eligible; |
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(13) improving the communication between providers, |
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health care facilities, and the Department of State Health Services |
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to enable an appropriate response to issues as they arise; |
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(14) utilizing existing resources to their greatest |
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potential, including the county indigent health care program of the |
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Department of State Health Services; |
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(15) requiring the evaluation of state indigent health |
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care services and recommendations for improvement by state |
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agencies, educational institutions, or independent research |
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entities; |
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(16) identifying best practices for provision of care; |
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and |
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(17) establishing long-term goals for the provision of |
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indigent health care services. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, or |
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any other law regarding the provision of health care services to |
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persons who are uninsured or otherwise unable to afford to pay for |
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health care services, the Department of State Health Services shall |
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implement the rules adopted under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |