BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1677

By: Menéndez

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes-related amputations are on the rise, with 160,000 individuals with diabetes undergoing amputation each year and approximately 80 percent of amputations of lower limbs being caused by diabetes complications. Further, the American Diabetes Association indicates that individuals who have had an amputation are less likely to survive the five years following the amputation than someone with coronary artery disease, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The bill sponsor has informed the committee that, while amputations are needed to prevent further complications, certain counties in Texas have higher rates of diabetes-related amputations, including Bexar County, which has higher hospitalization rates for these amputations than any other county. S.B. 1677 seeks to address the prevalence of this issue in Texas by creating an interdisciplinary panel to study this issue and make recommendations on prevention, increasing public awareness, best practices for reducing amputations, and policy solutions for ensuring treatment access.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1677 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to designate a public institution of higher education to conduct a study on the prevention and reduction of diabetes‑related amputation, using existing institutional resources. The bill requires the institution of higher education to have a Research Activity Designation: Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production under the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The bill requires the designated institution of higher education, in conducting the study, to do the following:

· collaborate with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS);

· identify and examine information on amputations resulting from diabetes; and

· develop recommendations regarding:

o amputation prevention related to diabetic foot ulcers and peripheral artery disease;

o methods for increasing public awareness of diabetes-related amputation;

o best practices for reducing the number of amputations performed; and

o policy solutions for ensuring access to treatments to assist with preventing amputation, including:

§ insurance coverage for therapies designed to treat diabetic foot ulcers, including topical oxygen therapy;

§ timely and equitable access to evidence-supported medical tools, technologies, and services to assist with the prevention of avoidable amputations;

§ methods to improve and incentivize quality care to avoid amputations when possible; and

§ methods to promote collaboration and cooperation among interested persons.

S.B. 1677 requires the designated institution of higher education, in conducting the study, to consult with the following individuals:

· the commissioner of state health services;

· a physician licensed in Texas who specializes in endocrinology;

· a nurse licensed in Texas with expertise in diabetes education;

· a vascular surgeon with expertise in amputation prevention;

· a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse with expertise in amputation prevention;

· a podiatrist with expertise in treating diabetic foot ulcers;

· a podiatrist or vascular surgeon affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;

· a representative of a public health provider;

· at least three individuals diagnosed with diabetes or who have experienced diabetes‑related amputation;

· a representative of the American Diabetes Association; and

· other individuals as the institution determines necessary.

S.B. 1677 requires the designated institution of higher education, not later than September 1, 2026, to prepare and submit to DSHS a report summarizing the results of the study and containing recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill requires DSHS to post the report on the DSHS website and requires the post to include the following:

· the information on which the institution's determinations and recommendations are based; and

· the methodologies the institution used to conduct the study.

The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.