88R12597 MPF-D

By: Orr H.B. No. 3976

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Texas Women's Health Care Consortium.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 114 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 114. TEXAS WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 114.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Consortium" means the Texas Women's Health Care Consortium.

(2) "Executive committee" means the executive committee of the consortium.

(3) "Participating health-related institution of higher education" means an institution listed in Section 114.052(1).

SUBCHAPTER B. CONSORTIUM

Sec. 114.051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Texas Women's Health Care Consortium is established to:

(1) provide preventative health care services for women, including cancer screenings, reproductive health care, and immunizations, through telehealth or any other means;

(2) provide perinatal and postpartum care services for women by telehealth or any other means, including telemonitoring;

(3) leverage the expertise and capacity of the participating health-related institutions of higher education to address urgent women's health challenges and improve the women's health care system in this state; and

(4) enhance the state's ability to address women's health care needs through collaboration of the participating health-related institutions.

Sec. 114.052. CONSORTIUM COMPOSITION. The consortium is composed of:

(1) the following health-related institutions of higher education:

(A) Baylor College of Medicine;

(B) Texas A&M University System Health Science Center;

(C) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

(D) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso;

(E) University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth;

(F) the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin;

(G) The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center;

(H) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;

(I) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;

(J) The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;

(K) the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley;

(L) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler;

(M) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; and

(N) Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine;

(2) the commission;

(3) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(4) three nonprofit organizations that focus on women's health care, designated by a majority of the members described by Subdivision (1); and

(5) any other entity that the executive committee considers necessary.

Sec. 114.053. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The consortium is administratively attached to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the purpose of receiving and administering appropriations and other funds under this chapter. The board is not responsible for providing to the consortium personnel, human resources, contract monitoring, purchasing, or any other administrative support services.

Sec. 114.054. FUNDING. The consortium may accept and use for purposes of this chapter money appropriated by the legislature and grants, gifts, and donations from public and private sources.

SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Sec. 114.101. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. The consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the following members:

(1) the chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology or family medicine of each participating health-related institution of higher education or a licensed obstetrics and gynecology physician, family medicine physician, or maternal-fetal medicine medical specialist designated by the chair to serve in the chair's place;

(2) a representative of the commission with expertise in women's health, appointed by the executive commissioner;

(3) a representative of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, appointed by the commissioner of the coordinating board;

(4) a representative of each nonprofit organization described by Section 114.052(4) that is part of the consortium, designated by a majority of the members described by Subdivision (1); and

(5) any other representative designated by a majority of the members described by Subdivision (1) at the request of the executive committee.

Sec. 114.102. VACANCY. A vacancy on the executive committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 114.103. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive committee shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership of the executive committee.

Sec. 114.104. GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee shall:

(1) develop and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines for the operation of the consortium;

(2) oversee the administration of the consortium, including the use of money;

(3) solicit and evaluate applications and proposals from the participating health-related institutions of higher education and other entities applying for grants and contracts for research, education, and health care services related to women's health;

(4) establish criteria for awarding grants and contracts for research, education, and health care services related to women's health;

(5) provide technical assistance to the participating health-related institutions of higher education and other entities applying for grants and contracts for research, education, and health care services related to women's health;

(6) establish a fellowship program for obstetrics and gynecology physicians who have completed residency and are interested in pursuing a career in women's health, with a focus on serving underserved areas of this state;

(7) establish a program to fund residency positions for obstetrics and gynecology physicians, with a focus on serving underserved areas of this state;

(8) provide oversight and evaluation of the fellowship program and residency position program; and

(9) report annually to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives on the activities and achievements of the consortium.

Sec. 114.105. MEETINGS. The executive committee shall meet at least quarterly or more frequently at the call of the presiding officer.

SUBCHAPTER D. WOMEN'S HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 114.151. WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE EXPANSION. (a) The executive committee may award grants to participating health-related institutions of higher education to fund research, education, and health care services related to women's health.

(b) The executive committee shall develop eligibility criteria for participating institutions of higher education that apply for grants under this section.

(c) The executive committee shall provide administrative and technical support to a participating institution of higher education that is awarded a grant under this section.

Sec. 114.152. WOMEN'S HEALTH PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIP. (a) The executive committee may provide funding for women's health physician fellowships, including for:

(1) obstetrics and gynecology physicians who have completed a residency program and have a demonstrated interest in providing women's health care services; and

(2) residency program positions for obstetrics and gynecology physicians who have a demonstrated interest in providing women's health care services.

(b) In awarding funding under Subsection (a), the executive committee shall give priority to physicians serving in underserved areas of this state.

(c) The executive committee shall develop eligibility criteria for obstetrics and gynecology physicians applying for fellowships under this section.

SUBCHAPTER E. WOMEN'S HEALTH MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS

Sec. 114.201. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS. The executive committee shall establish or expand existing mobile health clinics at the participating health-related institutions of higher education to provide health care services for women in underserved areas of this state.

Sec. 114.202. REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS. Each mobile health clinic established or expanded under this subchapter must include licensed health care professionals, including at least one obstetrics and gynecology or family medicine physician.

Sec. 114.203. MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES. A mobile health clinic established or expanded under this subchapter shall provide preventative health care services for women, including cancer screenings, reproductive health care services, and immunizations in person or by using telehealth services.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the members of the executive committee described by Section 114.101(1), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, shall make the appointments required by Section 114.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.