By: Hinojosa  S.B. No. 1397
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
  April 8, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; April 8, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to establishing a coordinated system for the dispatch,
  triage, transport, and transfer of patients in certain trauma
  service area regional advisory councils; providing rulemaking
  authority.
         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 AND GUIDELINES RELATED TO CERTAIN
  PATIENT TRANSFERS AND RELATED SERVICES.  (a)  This section applies
  only to a trauma service area regional advisory council 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 department, by January 1, 2022, by
  rule shall:
               (1) require the council to create an advisory committee
  composed of equally represented designated trauma hospital members
  located within the geographic boundaries of the council 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
  closest and most appropriate health care facility, require the
  council to implement a centralized system to assist the council in
  the dispatch, triage, transport, and transfer of patients; and
               (3) require each hospital and emergency services
  provider operating within the geographic boundaries of the council
  to collect and report to the council data on patients transferred
  outside the geographic boundaries of the council.
         SECTION 2.  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.
 
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