86R4312 KKR-D
 
  By: Cortez, Guillen H.B. No. 1782
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a plan to increase the use of telemedicine medical
  services and telehealth services in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.021611 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.021611.  ACTION PLAN TO EXPAND TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL
  SERVICES AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) The commission shall
  develop and implement an action plan to:
               (1)  expand the use of and increase access to
  telemedicine medical services, telehealth services, and related
  mobile applications for those services by health care providers for
  the residents of this state; and
               (2)  increase the availability of critical medical care
  and health care services to residents in this state in areas
  determined by the commission to be medically underserved, including
  the border region and rural areas.
         (b)  In developing and implementing the action plan under
  Subsection (a), the commission shall:
               (1)  seek the assistance of the Texas Hospital
  Association, the Texas Medical Association, teaching hospitals,
  and the statewide health coordinating council; and
               (2)  consult with health care providers, advocacy
  groups, relevant federal agencies, and any other interested persons
  the commission considers necessary to develop the action plan
  required by this section.
         (c)  The action plan developed under Subsection (a) must
  include:
               (1)   short-term and long-term plan recommendations,
  including policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement the
  plan;
               (2)  statutory and administrative reforms necessary to
  implement the plan; and
               (3)  options for the funding necessary to implement the
  plan.
         (d)  The commission shall:
               (1)  not later than September 1, 2021:
                     (A)  submit to the governor and the legislature
  the recommendations, the statutory and administrative reforms, and
  the funding options described in Subsection (c) and short-term and
  long-term plans to implement those recommendations, reforms, and
  options; and
                     (B)  begin implementing the short-term plan;
               (2)  not later than September 1, 2023, fully implement
  the short-term plan;
               (3)  not later than September 1, 2029, fully implement
  the long-term plan; and
               (4)  include the short-term and long-term plans in the
  update of the strategic plan for health and human services under
  Section 531.022, Government Code.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2030.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.