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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. 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, including |
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the border region and rural areas. |
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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) seek the assistance of the Texas Hospital |
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Association, the Texas Medical Association, teaching hospitals, |
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and the statewide health coordinating council; and |
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(2) 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, Government Code. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |