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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on reforms to the Indigent Health Care and |
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Treatment Act. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Mandated provider" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.002, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study on reforms to the |
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Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act, codified in Chapter 61, |
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Health and Safety Code. The study must examine: |
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(1) historical trends of individuals who are seeking |
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health care services from a health care provider other than a |
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mandated provider; |
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(2) the best method of communicating to an individual |
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information on the mandated providers for the jurisdiction in which |
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the individual resides; |
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(3) whether the health care services provided by a |
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county under the Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act are |
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sufficient to cover an individual's health care needs; and |
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(4) the costs incurred by a hospital district in |
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providing health care services to individuals who reside outside of |
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the district's jurisdiction, including a comparison of: |
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(A) the costs incurred by counties with mandated |
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providers compared to counties without mandated providers; and |
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(B) the costs incurred by counties that are |
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surrounded by other counties with mandated providers compared to |
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counties that are surrounded by other counties without mandated |
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providers. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2024, the commission shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing |
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committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over public |
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hospitals a written report summarizing the results of the study |
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conducted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |