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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the effects of providing child life |
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specialist services to certain individuals who receive supportive |
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palliative care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Advisory council" means the Palliative Care |
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Interdisciplinary Advisory Council established under Chapter 118, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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(2) "Child life specialist" means a health care |
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provider that offers psychosocial support to pediatric patients and |
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to the children of seriously ill adult patients by helping improve a |
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child's coping skills, aiding in the development of holistic pain |
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management and other symptom management strategies for pediatric |
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patients, and improving the overall patient experience. |
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(3) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY REGARDING CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST SERVICES. |
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(a) The commission, in collaboration with the advisory council, |
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shall conduct a study to assess the effects of supporting the use of |
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child life specialist services by or providing child life |
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specialist services to adult and child Medicaid recipients in this |
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state who receive supportive palliative care in inpatient or |
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community-based settings, including: |
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(1) potential improvements to recipients' health care |
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outcomes and quality of life; and |
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(2) anticipated cost savings to this state. |
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(b) The study must identify: |
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(1) the role child life specialists currently play in |
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providing supportive palliative care services to individuals, |
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including Medicaid recipients, in inpatient and community-based |
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settings in this state; |
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(2) the current funding method for child life |
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specialist positions; |
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(3) opportunities for increasing the use of child life |
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specialist services in this state; and |
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(4) best practices for using child life specialist |
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services as developed by other states. |
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(c) The advisory council shall provide recommendations to |
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the commission regarding the structure and goals of the study, |
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including recommendations for: |
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(1) specific populations to receive supportive |
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palliative care under Medicaid; |
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(2) variables and outcomes to measure in the study; |
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and |
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(3) entities, including hospitals, hospices, and home |
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health agencies, with which the commission may collaborate to |
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conduct the study. |
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(d) The commission may: |
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(1) collaborate with private and public entities as |
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necessary to conduct the study; and |
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(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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from any public or private source to fund the study. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT TO ADVISORY COUNCIL AND LEGISLATURE. (a) |
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Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall prepare and |
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submit to the advisory council a report on the results of the study |
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conducted under this Act. |
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(b) The advisory council shall include the commission's |
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report under Subsection (a) of this section in the advisory |
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council's 2026 biennial report to the legislature required by |
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Section 118.010, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |