87R27126 JG-D
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1397
 
  (Guerra)
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1397:  No.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regional protocols and processes for patient transfers
  and related services within the geographic area served by certain
  trauma service area regional advisory councils.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 773.1141 to read as follows:
         Sec. 773.1141.  INFORMATION, GUIDELINES, AND PROTOCOLS
  RELATED TO CERTAIN PATIENT TRANSFERS AND RELATED SERVICES.  (a)
  This section applies only to a trauma service area regional
  advisory council serving a geographic area that includes:
               (1)  at least one county located on the international
  border of this state; and
               (2) at least one county adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.
         (b) For each trauma service area regional advisory council to
  which this section applies, the executive commissioner by rule
  shall:
               (1) require the council to create an advisory committee
  composed of equally represented designated trauma hospital system
  members located within the geographic boundaries of the council or
  require the council to direct an existing advisory committee of the
  council established for a purpose similar to that described by this
  subsection to:
                     (A) develop guidelines for patient transfers; and
                     (B) periodically review patient transfers to
  ensure compliance with applicable guidelines;
               (2) for the purpose of ensuring that patients located
  in the council's geographic boundaries receive health care at the
  health care facility closest to and most appropriate for the
  patients, require the council to develop regional protocols and
  processes to assist the council in managing the dispatch, triage,
  transport, and transfer of patients; and
               (3) require each hospital and emergency medical
  services provider operating within the council's geographic
  boundaries to collect and report to the council data on patients
  transferred outside the council's geographic boundaries.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than April 1, 2022, the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  adopt the rules required by Section 773.1141, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.