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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an assessment and strategic review of the trauma |
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hospital system by the Department of State Health Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "department" means the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with the advisory |
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council established under Section 773.012, Health and Safety Code, |
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shall conduct an assessment of trauma hospital adequacy in |
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accordance with the strategic plans required by Section 2056.002, |
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Government Code, and Section 773.012(l), Health and Safety Code. |
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(c) The assessment described by Subsection (b) of this |
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section must include a review of: |
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(1) the deficiencies of trauma hospital systems in |
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rural counties in this state; |
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(2) the deficiencies of trauma hospital systems in |
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counties located along the international border with Mexico; and |
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(3) the adequacy of access to each trauma level of care |
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in each region of this state, with an emphasis on level one trauma |
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facilities. |
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(d) The department may develop recommendations on necessary |
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changes to law, funding, or public policy to address the |
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deficiencies described by Subsection (c) of this section. |
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(e) The department may, as necessary and to the extent money |
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is available, contract with a third party to collect information |
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and conduct an analysis for the assessment described by Subsection |
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(b) of this section. |
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(f) The department shall complete the assessment described |
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by Subsection (b) of this section and submit a written report to the |
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legislature not later than September 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "department" means the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with the advisory |
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council established under Section 773.012, Health and Safety Code, |
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shall conduct a strategic review of hospitals designated as level |
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one trauma hospitals that includes an analysis of: |
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(1) impediments for hospitals in obtaining a |
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designation as a level one trauma hospital; |
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(2) the source, including a statute, a rule, or |
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funding, of any impediments described by Subdivision (1) of this |
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subsection; and |
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(3) existing laws found to be the source of an |
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impediment described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection and any |
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recommendations for amending the laws. |
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(c) The department shall prepare and submit a written report |
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to the legislature on the strategic review conducted under this |
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section and any recommendations not later than December 31, 2020. |
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SECTION 3. This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2019. |