85R4901 DMS-D
 
  By: Meyer H.B. No. 1067
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to newborn screening tests for adrenoleukodystrophy.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 33, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 33. ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY, PHENYLKETONURIA, OTHER HERITABLE
  DISEASES, HYPOTHYROIDISM, AND CERTAIN OTHER DISORDERS
         SECTION 2.  Section 33.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Adrenoleukodystrophy" means an inherited
  condition that results in an abnormality in the structure or
  function of the brain and causes severe, life-threatening symptoms.
               (2)  "Birthing facility" means an inpatient or
  ambulatory health care facility that offers obstetrical or newborn
  care services.  The term includes:
                     (A)  a hospital licensed under Chapter 241 that
  offers obstetrical services;
                     (B)  a birthing center licensed under Chapter 244;
                     (C)  a children's hospital; or
                     (D)  a facility that provides obstetrical
  services and is maintained and operated by this state or an agency
  of this state.
               (3) [(1-a)]  "Critical congenital heart disease" means
  an abnormality in the structure or function of the heart that exists
  at birth, causes severe, life-threatening symptoms, and requires
  medical intervention within the first few hours, days, or months of
  life.
               (4) [(1-b)]  "Heritable disease" means an inherited
  disease that may result in intellectual [mental] or physical
  disability [retardation] or death.
               (5) [(2)]  "Hypothyroidism" means a condition that may
  cause severe intellectual disability [mental retardation] if not
  treated.
               (6) [(3)]  "Other benefit" means a benefit, other than
  a benefit under this chapter, to which an individual is entitled for
  the payment of the costs of services.  The term includes:
                     (A)  benefits available under:
                           (i)  an insurance policy, group health plan,
  or prepaid medical care plan;
                           (ii)  Title XVIII of the Social Security Act
  (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq.);
                           (iii)  Title XIX of the Social Security Act
  (42 U.S.C. Section 1396 et seq.);
                           (iv)  the United States Department of
  Veterans Affairs;
                           (v)  the TRICARE program of the United
  States Department of Defense; or
                           (vi)  workers' compensation or any other
  compulsory employers insurance program;
                     (B)  a public program created by federal or state
  law or by ordinance or rule of a municipality or political
  subdivision of the state, except those benefits created by the
  establishment of a municipal or county hospital, a joint
  municipal-county hospital, a county hospital authority, a hospital
  district, or by the facilities of a publicly supported medical
  school; and
                     (C)  benefits resulting from a cause of action for
  health care expenses, or a settlement or judgment based on the cause
  of action, if the expenses are related to the need for services
  provided under this chapter.
               (7) [(4)]  "Phenylketonuria" means an inherited
  condition that may cause severe intellectual disability [mental
  retardation] if not treated.
               (8) [(5)]  "Screening test" means a rapid analytical
  procedure to determine the need for further diagnostic evaluation.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 33.002(a) and (c), Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall carry out a program to combat
  morbidity, including intellectual disability [mental retardation],
  and mortality in persons who have adrenoleukodystrophy,
  phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, or hypothyroidism.
         (c)  The department shall establish and maintain a
  laboratory to:
               (1)  conduct experiments, projects, and other
  activities necessary to develop screening or diagnostic tests for
  the early detection of adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria,
  other heritable diseases, and hypothyroidism;
               (2)  develop ways and means or discover methods to be
  used to prevent or treat adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria,
  other heritable diseases, and hypothyroidism; and
               (3)  serve other purposes considered necessary by the
  department to carry out the program.
         SECTION 4.  Section 33.011(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The physician attending a newborn child or the person
  attending the delivery of a newborn child that is not attended by a
  physician shall cause the child to be subjected to screening tests
  approved by the department for adrenoleukodystrophy,
  phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, hypothyroidism, and
  other disorders for which screening is required by the department.
         SECTION 5.  Section 33.014(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If, because of an analysis of a specimen submitted under
  Section 33.011, the department reasonably suspects that a newborn
  child may have adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, another
  heritable disease, hypothyroidism, or another disorder for which
  the screening tests are required, the department shall notify the
  person who submits the specimen that the results are abnormal and
  provide the test results to that person.  The department may notify
  one or more of the following that the results of the analysis are
  abnormal and recommend further testing when necessary:
               (1)  the physician attending the newborn child or the
  physician's designee;
               (2)  the person attending the delivery of the newborn
  child that was not attended by a physician;
               (3)  the parents of the newborn child;
               (4)  the health authority of the jurisdiction in which
  the newborn child was born or in which the child resides, if known;
  or
               (5)  physicians who are cooperating pediatric
  specialists for the program.
         SECTION 6.  Section 33.031(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  All newborn children and other individuals under 21
  years of age who have been screened, have been found to be
  presumptively positive through the newborn screening program for
  adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases,
  hypothyroidism, or another disorder for which the screening tests
  are required, and may be financially eligible may be referred to the
  department's services program for children with special health care
  needs.
         SECTION 7.  Section 33.032(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Within the limits of funds available for this purpose
  and in cooperation with the individual's physician, the department
  may provide services directly or through approved providers to
  individuals of any age who meet the eligibility criteria specified
  by department rules on the confirmation of a positive test for
  adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases,
  hypothyroidism, or another disorder for which the screening tests
  are required.
         SECTION 8.  The heading to Chapter 1359, Insurance Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 1359. FORMULAS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY,
  PHENYLKETONURIA, OR OTHER HERITABLE DISEASES
         SECTION 9.  Section 1359.001, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1359.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Adrenoleukodystrophy" means an inherited
  condition that results in an abnormality in the structure or
  function of the brain and causes severe, life-threatening symptoms.
               (2)  "Heritable disease" means an inherited disease
  that may result in intellectual [mental] or physical disability 
  [retardation] or death.
               (3) [(2)]  "Phenylketonuria" means an inherited
  condition that, if not treated, may cause severe intellectual
  disability [mental retardation].
         SECTION 10.  Section 1359.003(a), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A group health benefit plan must provide coverage for
  formulas necessary to treat adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria,
  or a heritable disease.
         SECTION 11.  Section 203.355(c), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The laboratory services must include the performance of
  the standard serological tests for syphilis and the collection of
  blood specimens for newborn screening tests for
  adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, and other
  heritable diseases as required by law.
         SECTION 12.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall
  implement the changes in law made by this Act to the newborn
  screening program under Chapter 33, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 13.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.