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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to fostering collaboration among health care systems to |
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provide indigent health care to communities more efficiently. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.098 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.098. INDIGENT HEALTH CARE COLLABORATION. (a) The |
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executive commissioner shall adopt rules to foster collaboration |
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among and within systems that provide indigent health care services |
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in the state, including: |
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(1) hospital districts; |
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(2) public hospitals; |
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(3) indigent health care programs provided by |
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counties; |
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(4) community-owned health care systems; and |
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(5) federally qualified health centers. |
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(b) The rules must: |
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(1) emphasize community-based care to improve the |
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continuity and quality of indigent health care; |
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(2) address the variation in indigent health care |
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services provided to urban and rural settings; |
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(3) remove legal and practical barriers to |
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collaboration; |
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(4) provide guidance to systems for detecting and |
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treating mental illness; |
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(5) facilitate the creation of special programs to |
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assist patients in navigating the systems that provide indigent |
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health care services; and |
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(6) adopt changes that maximize funding and increase |
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the efficiency of indigent health care provided to communities in |
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the state. |
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(c) In adopting the rules, the executive commissioner shall |
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consider recommending that the systems described by Subsection (a) |
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incorporate the following principles: |
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(1) promote patient responsibility and program |
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viability; |
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(2) provide a medical home for members; |
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(3) make evidence-based health care decisions; |
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(4) pay providers based on a fee-for-service basis; |
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(5) ensure members receive necessary medication; and |
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(6) develop community partnerships to expand indigent |
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health care services. |
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SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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531.098, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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January 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |