84R24748 KEL-D

By: Davis of Harris, Zerwas H.B. No. 2131

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2131:

By: Crownover C.S.H.B. No. 2131

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the designation of centers of excellence to achieve healthy fetal outcomes in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

FOR FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY

Sec. 32.071. DESIGNATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY. (a) The department, in consultation with the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Advisory Council, shall designate as centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy one or more health care entities in this state that provide comprehensive maternal, fetal, and neonatal health care for pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies complicated by one or more fetuses with anomalies, with genetic conditions, or with compromise caused by a pregnancy condition or by exposure.

(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, in consultation with the department and the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Advisory Council, shall adopt rules establishing the criteria necessary for a health care entity in this state to be designated as a center of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy.

Sec. 32.072. ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall appoint the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Advisory Council to advise the department in the designation of centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy.

(b) The advisory council must consist of individuals with expertise in fetal diagnosis and therapy. A majority of the members of the advisory council must practice in those areas in a health profession in this state. The advisory council may include national and international experts.

Sec. 32.073. PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CENTER DESIGNATIONS. The rules adopted under Section 32.071(b) must prioritize awarding a designation under this subchapter to a health care entity that:

(1) offers fetal diagnosis and therapy through an extensive multi-specialty clinical program that is affiliated and collaborates extensively with a medical school in this state and an associated hospital facility that provides advanced maternal and neonatal care;

(2) demonstrates a significant commitment to research in and advancing the field of fetal diagnosis and therapy;

(3) offers advanced training programs in fetal diagnosis and therapy; and

(4) integrates an advanced fetal care program with a program that provides appropriate long-term monitoring and follow-up care for patients.

Sec. 32.074. QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. The rules adopted under Section 32.071(b) must ensure that a designation under this subchapter is based directly on a health care entity's ability to:

(1) achieve cost-effectiveness in health care treatment;

(2) implement and maintain a cohesive multidisciplinary structure for its health care team;

(3) meet acceptable thresholds of patient volume and physician experience;

(4) monitor short-term and long-term patient diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes; and

(5) provide to the department annual reports based on those outcomes and make those reports available to the public.

SECTION 2. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section 32.071, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2015.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2016, the Department of State Health Services shall begin awarding designations required by Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, to health care entities establishing eligibility under that subchapter.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.