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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing access to local health departments and |
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certain health service regional offices under Medicaid. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 32.003, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivisions (2) and (3) to read as follows: |
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(2) "Health service regional office" means an office |
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located in a public health region and administered by a regional |
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director under Section 121.007, Health and Safety Code. |
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(3) "Local health department" means a local health |
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department established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (ll) to read as follows: |
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(ll) The executive commissioner shall establish a separate |
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provider type for local health departments, including health |
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service regional offices acting in the capacity of local health |
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departments, for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and |
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reimbursement under the medical assistance program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 32.101(2), Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Health care provider" means a person, other than |
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a physician, who: |
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(A) is licensed or otherwise authorized to |
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provide a health care service in this state, including: |
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(i) a pharmacist, dentist, optometrist, |
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mental health counselor, social worker, advanced practice nurse, |
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physician assistant, or durable medical equipment supplier; [or] |
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(ii) a pharmacy, hospital, or other |
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institution or organization; or |
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(iii) a local health department or a health |
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service regional office acting in the capacity of a local health |
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department in a public health region; |
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(B) is wholly owned or controlled by: |
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(i) a health care provider or a group of |
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health care providers described by Paragraph (A); or |
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(ii) one or more hospitals and physicians, |
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including a physician-hospital organization; |
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(C) is a professional association of physicians |
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organized under the Texas Professional Association Law, as |
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described by Section 1.008, Business Organizations Code; |
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(D) is an approved nonprofit health corporation |
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certified under Chapter 162, Occupations Code; |
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(E) is a medical and dental unit, as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code, a medical school, as defined by |
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Section 61.501, Education Code, or a health science center |
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described by Subchapter K, Chapter 74, Education Code, that employs |
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or contracts with physicians to teach or provide medical services, |
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or employs physicians and contracts with physicians in a practice |
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plan; or |
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(F) is another person wholly owned by physicians. |
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SECTION 4. The Health and Human Services Commission is |
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required to implement a provision of this Act only if the |
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legislature appropriates money to the commission specifically for |
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that 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 a provision of this Act using other |
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appropriations that are available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2020. |