86R8743 JCG-F
 
  By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1621
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a license for certain rural medical
  facilities; requiring a license; authorizing fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. LIMITED SERVICES RURAL HOSPITAL
         Sec. 241.301.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "limited
  services rural hospital" means a general hospital that is or was
  licensed under this chapter that:
               (1)  is located in a rural area, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
  Section 1395ww(d)(2)(D);
               (2)  is owned by a hospital district or hospital
  authority; and
               (3)  otherwise meets the requirements to be designated
  as a limited services rural hospital or a similarly designated
  hospital under federal law.
         Sec. 241.302.  LICENSE REQUIRED; FEES. (a) A person may not
  establish, conduct, or maintain a limited services rural hospital
  unless:
               (1)  the United States Congress passes a bill creating
  a payment program specifically for limited services rural hospitals
  or similarly designated hospitals that becomes law; and
               (2)  the commission issues a license to the person to
  establish, conduct, or maintain a limited services rural hospital
  under this subchapter.
         (b)  If the United States Congress enacts a bill described by
  Subsection (a)(1) that becomes law, the commission shall adopt
  rules:
               (1)  establishing minimum standards for the
  facilities; and
               (2)  implementing this section. 
         (c)  The standards adopted under Subsection (b) must be at
  least as stringent as the standards established in the law
  described by Subsection (a) for eligibility to qualify for a
  payment program established by the law.
         (d)  An applicant for a license under this section must:
               (1)  submit an application for the license to the
  commission in a form and manner prescribed by the commission; and
               (2)  pay any required fee. 
         (e)  The commission shall issue a license to act as a limited
  services rural hospital under this subchapter if the applicant
  complies with the rules and standards adopted under this section.
         (f)  The commission by order may waive or modify the
  requirement of a particular provision of this chapter or a standard
  adopted under this section if the commission determines that the
  waiver or modification will facilitate the creation or operation of
  the facility and that the waiver or modification is in the best
  interests of the individuals served or to be served by the facility.
  Sections 241.026(d) and (e) apply to a waiver or modification under
  this section for a limited services rural hospital in the same
  manner as the subsections apply to a waiver or modification for a
  hospital.
         (g)  A provision of this chapter related to the enforcement
  authority of the commission applies to a limited services rural
  hospital. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.