84R21937 LED-D
 
  By: Laubenberg, Coleman, Guerra, H.B. No. 2082
      Bonnen of Galveston, Fallon, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to developing a program to provide telemedicine medical
  services to certain children.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.076 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.076.  TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
  WITH CHRONIC OR COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS. (a)  In this section,
  "telemedicine medical service" means a health care service that is
  provided by a physician for purposes of patient assessment,
  diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, or for the transfer of
  medical data, and that requires the use of advanced
  telecommunications technology, other than telephone or facsimile
  technology, including:
               (1)  compressed digital interactive video, audio, or
  data transmission;
               (2)  clinical data transmission using computer imaging
  by way of still-image capture and store and forward; and
               (3)  other technology that facilitates access to health
  care services or medical specialty expertise.
         (b)  The commission shall develop and implement a program to:
               (1)  enable an eligible child described under
  Subsection (c) to receive medical assistance benefits for health
  care services provided in the child's residence through
  telemedicine medical services; and
               (2)  provide reimbursement for telemedicine medical
  services under Subdivision (1).
         (c)  A child is eligible for inclusion in the program under
  this section if the child:
               (1)  is a recipient of medical assistance; and
               (2)  has been diagnosed with:
                     (A)  an end-stage solid organ disease; or
                     (B)  a condition that, as determined by commission
  rule, requires:
                           (i)  mechanical ventilation;
                           (ii)  the child to be technology-dependent;
  or
                           (iii)  the child to be treated by three or
  more specialists.
         (d)  Not later than January 1, 2019, and at other times after
  that date as determined appropriate by the executive commissioner,
  the commission shall report to the legislature on results and
  outcomes of the program.  A report must include:
               (1)  an evaluation of clinical outcomes of the program,
  including the program's success in reducing expected emergency
  department visits; and
               (2)  the program's impact on medical costs.
         (e)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules to implement
  this section.
         SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.