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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to services provided by freestanding emergency medical |
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care facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 254.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subdivisions (1) and (5) and adding |
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Subdivisions (1-a) and (1-b) to read as follows: |
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(1) "Acute care services" means outpatient medical |
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services, including radiology services, laboratory services, |
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immunization services, and other non-emergent physician services. |
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(1-a) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(1-b) "Department" means the commission [Department |
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of State Health Services]. |
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(5) "Freestanding emergency medical care facility" |
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means a facility, structurally separate and distinct from a |
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hospital, that receives an individual and provides: |
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(A) emergency care, as defined by Subdivision |
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(2); and |
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(B) acute care services, as defined by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 254.1555 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.1555. CERTAIN FEES PROHIBITED. A facility that |
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provides acute care services may not charge an emergency facility |
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fee for providing the services. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |