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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a matching grant program for technological enhancements |
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at certain health care facilities that provide mental health care |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.09915 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.09915. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR TECHNOLOGICAL |
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ENHANCEMENTS AT CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES PROVIDING MENTAL |
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HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) In this section, "health care facility" |
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means: |
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(1) a hospital licensed under Chapter 241, Health and |
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Safety Code, that is located in a rural county; or |
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(2) a hospital licensed under Chapter 577, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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(b) The commission shall establish a matching grant program |
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for the purpose of enhancing the technological capabilities of |
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health care facilities providing mental health care services in |
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this state. |
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(c) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a health |
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care facility must: |
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(1) demonstrate how the grant money and matching funds |
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will be used to improve the quality of and access to mental health |
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care services in this state; |
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(2) align with the interoperability and technology |
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standards in the 21st Century Cures Act (Pub. L. No. 114-255); and |
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(3) meet any other additional eligibility criteria |
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established by the commission. |
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(d) The commission shall condition each grant provided to a |
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health care facility under this section on the facility providing |
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funds from non-state sources in an amount equal to 25 percent of the |
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grant amount. |
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(e) To raise the required non-state sourced funds, the |
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health care facility may seek and receive gifts, grants, or |
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donations from any person. |
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(f) A health care facility awarded a grant under this |
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section may only use the grant money and matching funds to: |
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(1) purchase a recordkeeping platform that uses a |
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certified electronic health record; |
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(2) expand the interoperability of health information |
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in the health care facility or as part of a network with other |
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health care providers; |
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(3) expand a patient's access to the patient's digital |
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health records and mental health care services; |
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(4) improve information technology infrastructure |
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regarding the data privacy and security of patient information, |
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including consent management; and |
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(5) improve the efficiency of the provision of mental |
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health care services through the use and interconnectivity of |
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mobile devices. |
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(g) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any source for the purposes of awarding grants under |
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this section. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the commission shall submit a report to the legislature regarding |
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the results of the grant program administered under this section. |
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(i) The commission may adopt any rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |