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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a plan to increase the use of telemedicine medical |
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services and telehealth services 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 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. PLAN TO EXPAND TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES AND |
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TELEHEALTH SERVICES |
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Sec. 1001.251. ACTION PLAN. (a) The department, with the |
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assistance of the Texas Hospital Association, the Texas Medical |
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Association, teaching hospitals, and the statewide health |
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coordinating council, shall develop and implement an action plan |
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to: |
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(1) expand the use of telemedicine medical services, |
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telehealth services, and related mobile applications for those |
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services to increase access by residents of this state to health |
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care providers; and |
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(2) increase the availability of critical medical care |
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and health care services to residents in this state in areas |
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determined by the department to be medically underserved, including |
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the border region and rural areas. |
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(b) The department shall consult with health care |
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providers, advocacy groups, relevant federal agencies, and any |
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other interested persons the department considers necessary to |
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develop the action plan required by this section. |
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Sec. 1001.252. PLAN REQUIREMENTS. (a) The action plan |
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developed under Section 1001.251 must include: |
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(1) short-term and long-term plan recommendations, |
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including policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement the |
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plan; |
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(2) statutory and administrative changes necessary to |
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implement the plan; and |
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(3) options for the funding necessary to implement the |
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plan. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) not later than September 1, 2019: |
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(A) submit to the governor and the legislature |
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the recommendations, the statutory and administrative changes, and |
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the funding options described in Subsection (a) and short-term and |
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long-term plans to implement those recommendations, changes, and |
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options; and |
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(B) begin implementing the short-term plan; |
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(2) not later than September 1, 2021, fully implement |
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the short-term plan; |
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(3) not later than September 1, 2027, fully implement |
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the long-term plan; and |
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(4) include the short-term and long-term plans in the |
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material the department prepares for consideration of the |
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commission in connection with the update of the strategic plan for |
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health and human services under Section 531.022, Government Code. |
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Sec. 1001.253. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires |
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September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |