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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of centers of excellence to achieve |
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healthy fetal outcomes in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE |
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FOR FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY |
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Sec. 32.071. DESIGNATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FETAL |
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DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY. (a) The department, in consultation with |
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the Perinatal Advisory Council established under Section 241.187, |
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shall designate as centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and |
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therapy one or more health care entities in this state that provide |
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comprehensive maternal, fetal, and neonatal health care for |
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pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies complicated by one or |
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more fetuses with anomalies, with genetic conditions, or with |
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compromise caused by a pregnancy condition or by exposure. |
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(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, in consultation with the department and the |
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Perinatal Advisory Council, shall adopt the rules necessary for a |
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health care entity in this state to be designated as a center of |
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excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy. |
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Sec. 32.072. SUBCOMMITTEE. (a) The department, in |
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consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Council, shall appoint a |
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subcommittee of that advisory council to advise the advisory |
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council and the department on the development of rules related to |
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the designations made by the department under this subchapter. As |
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part of its duties under this subsection, the subcommittee |
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specifically shall advise the advisory council and the department |
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regarding the criteria necessary for a health care entity in this |
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state to receive a designation under this subchapter. |
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(b) The subcommittee must consist of individuals with |
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expertise in fetal diagnosis and therapy. A majority of the members |
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of the subcommittee must practice in those areas in a health |
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profession in this state. The subcommittee may include national and |
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international experts. |
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Sec. 32.073. PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CENTER |
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DESIGNATIONS. The rules adopted under Section 32.071(b) must |
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prioritize awarding a designation under this subchapter to a health |
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care entity that: |
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(1) offers fetal diagnosis and therapy through an |
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extensive multi-specialty clinical program that is affiliated and |
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collaborates extensively with a medical school in this state and an |
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associated hospital facility that provides advanced maternal and |
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neonatal care in accordance with the rules established under |
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Section 241.183(a)(1); |
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(2) demonstrates a significant commitment to research |
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in and advancing the field of fetal diagnosis and therapy; |
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(3) offers advanced training programs in fetal |
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diagnosis and therapy; and |
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(4) integrates an advanced fetal care program with a |
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program that provides appropriate long-term monitoring and |
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follow-up care for patients. |
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Sec. 32.074. QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. The rules |
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adopted under Section 32.071(b) must ensure that a designation |
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under this subchapter is based directly on a health care entity's |
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ability to: |
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(1) implement and maintain a cohesive |
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multidisciplinary structure for its health care team; |
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(2) monitor short-term and long-term patient |
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diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes; and |
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(3) provide to the department annual reports |
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containing aggregate data on short-term and long-term diagnostic |
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and therapeutic outcomes as requested or required by the department |
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and make those reports available to the public. |
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SECTION 2. (a) 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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32.071, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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March 1, 2018. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2018, the Department of |
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State Health Services shall begin awarding designations required by |
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Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this |
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Act, to health care entities establishing eligibility under that |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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