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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to developing a program to provide telemedicine medical |
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services to certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.076 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.076. TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN |
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WITH CHRONIC OR COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS. (a) In this section, |
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"telemedicine medical service" means a health care service that is |
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provided by a physician for purposes of patient assessment, |
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diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, or for the transfer of |
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medical data, and that requires the use of advanced |
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telecommunications technology, other than telephone or facsimile |
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technology, including: |
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(1) compressed digital interactive video, audio, or |
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data transmission; |
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(2) clinical data transmission using computer imaging |
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by way of still-image capture and store and forward; and |
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(3) other technology that facilitates access to health |
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care services or medical specialty expertise. |
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(b) The commission shall develop and implement a program to: |
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(1) enable an eligible child described under |
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Subsection (c) to receive medical assistance benefits for health |
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care services provided in the child's residence through |
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telemedicine medical services; and |
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(2) provide reimbursement for telemedicine medical |
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services under Subdivision (1). |
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(c) A child is eligible for inclusion in the program under |
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this section if the child: |
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(1) is a recipient of medical assistance; and |
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(2) has been diagnosed with: |
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(A) an end-stage solid organ disease; or |
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(B) a condition that, as determined by commission |
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rule, requires: |
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(i) mechanical ventilation; |
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(ii) the child to be technology-dependent; |
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or |
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(iii) the child to be treated by three or |
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more specialists. |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2019, and at other times after |
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that date as determined appropriate by the executive commissioner, |
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the commission shall report to the legislature on results and |
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outcomes of the program. A report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of clinical outcomes of the program, |
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including the program's success in reducing expected emergency |
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department visits; and |
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(2) the program's impact on medical costs. |
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(e) The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |