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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to use of telemedicine medical service by certain trauma |
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facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 773, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 773.1151 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 773.1151. USE OF TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICE BY |
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CERTAIN TRAUMA FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "telemedicine |
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medical service" has the meaning assigned by Section 111.001, |
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Occupations Code. |
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(b) A health care facility located in a county with a |
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population of less than 30,000 may satisfy a Level IV trauma |
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facility designation requirement relating to physicians through |
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the use of telemedicine medical service in which an on-call |
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physician who has special competence in the care of critically |
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injured patients provides patient assessment, diagnosis, |
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consultation, or treatment or transfers medical data to a |
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physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician |
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assistant located at the facility. |
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(c) In establishing the requirements for designating a |
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facility as a Level IV trauma facility, the executive commissioner |
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may not adopt rules that: |
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(1) require the physical presence or physical |
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availability of a physician who has special competence in the care |
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of critically injured patients; or |
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(2) prohibit the use of telemedicine medical service |
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that meets the requirements of Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section |
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773.1151, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later |
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than December 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 773.1151, Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act, a health care facility located in |
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a county with a population of less than 30,000 may use telemedicine |
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medical service to satisfy a Level IV trauma facility designation |
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requirement only on or after January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |