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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, telehealth services, and interprofessional Internet |
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consultations in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.021611 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.021611. ACTION PLAN TO EXPAND TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL |
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SERVICES AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) The commission shall |
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develop and implement an action plan to: |
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(1) expand the use of and increase access to |
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telemedicine medical services, telehealth services, and related |
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mobile applications for those services by health care providers for |
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the residents of this state; 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 commission to be medically underserved. |
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(b) In developing and implementing the action plan under |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall: |
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(1) evaluate, in collaboration with the Maternal |
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Mortality and Morbidity Task Force established under Chapter 34, |
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Health and Safety Code, and other interested persons, the use of |
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telemedicine medical services for women during pregnancy and the |
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postpartum period; |
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(2) seek the assistance of the Texas Hospital |
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Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Nurses |
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Association, The University of Texas System Virtual Health Network, |
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teaching hospitals, and the statewide health coordinating council; |
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and |
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(3) consult with health care providers, advocacy |
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groups, relevant federal agencies, and any other interested persons |
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the commission considers necessary to develop the action plan |
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required by this section. |
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(c) The action plan developed under Subsection (a) must |
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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 reforms 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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(d) The commission shall: |
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(1) not later than September 1, 2021: |
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(A) submit to the governor and the legislature |
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the recommendations, the statutory and administrative reforms, and |
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the funding options described in Subsection (c) and short-term and |
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long-term plans to implement those recommendations, reforms, 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, 2023, fully implement |
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the short-term plan; |
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(3) not later than September 1, 2029, 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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update of the strategic plan for health and human services under |
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Section 531.022. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02166 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02166. INTERPROFESSIONAL INTERNET CONSULTATIONS |
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PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Not later than September 1, 2021, and subject |
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to Subsection (e), the commission shall develop and implement a |
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pilot program through which the commission provides or contracts |
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with a third party to provide technical assistance to train |
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Medicaid providers regarding the use of interprofessional Internet |
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consultations for Medicaid recipients in rural and medically |
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underserved areas. The program must be designed to determine |
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whether the use of technology improves access to specialty care, |
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including pediatric, prenatal, postnatal, and behavioral health |
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services, for Medicaid recipients. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) implement the pilot program in: |
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(A) at least one: |
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(i) federally qualified health center; |
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(ii) municipal public health system; |
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(iii) clinic that is a member of a nonprofit |
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membership association that supports charitable clinics in this |
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state; and |
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(iv) rural community center; and |
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(B) a maximum of 20 health clinics; and |
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(2) ensure that a third party contracted to provide |
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technical assistance described under Subsection (a): |
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(A) has significant experience integrating |
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telehealth services, telemedicine medical services, and online |
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consultations with electronic health records; and |
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(B) has a current contract with the United States |
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Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and |
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Services Administration as a regional telehealth resource center. |
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(c) The commission shall examine cost avoidance that |
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results from providing telemedicine medical services to Medicaid |
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recipients in rural and medically underserved communities through |
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the pilot program, including cost avoidance that results from: |
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(1) reducing recipient wait times for specialty care |
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providers; |
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(2) improving access to specialty care; |
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(3) reducing the number of recipient referrals; and |
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(4) reducing the number of miles traveled by |
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recipients for specialty care consultations. |
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(d) Not later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall |
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report to the legislature regarding the status and results of the |
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pilot program and make recommendations regarding whether to |
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continue, expand, or terminate the program. |
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(e) The commission is required to implement this section |
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only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that |
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purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money |
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specifically for that purpose, the commission may, but is not |
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required to, implement this section using other appropriations |
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available for that purpose. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |