This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

 
 
  H.B. No. 2131
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the designation of centers of excellence to achieve
  healthy fetal outcomes in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
  FOR FETAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY
         Sec. 32.071.  DESIGNATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FETAL
  DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY. (a) The department, in consultation with
  the Perinatal Advisory Council established under Section 241.187,
  shall designate as centers of excellence for fetal diagnosis and
  therapy one or more health care entities or programs in this state,
  including institutions of higher education as defined by Section
  61.003, Education Code, or the programs of those institutions.
         (b)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission, in consultation with the department and the
  Perinatal Advisory Council, shall adopt the rules necessary for a
  health care entity or program in this state to be designated as a
  center of excellence for fetal diagnosis and therapy.
         Sec. 32.072.  SUBCOMMITTEE. (a) The department, in
  consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Council, shall appoint a
  subcommittee of that advisory council to advise the advisory
  council and the department on the development of rules related to
  the designations made by the department under this subchapter. As
  part of its duties under this subsection, the subcommittee
  specifically shall advise the advisory council and the department
  regarding the criteria necessary for a health care entity or
  program in this state to receive a designation under this
  subchapter.
         (b)  The subcommittee must consist of individuals with
  expertise in fetal diagnosis and therapy. A majority of the members
  of the subcommittee must practice in those areas in a health
  profession in this state. The subcommittee may include national and
  international experts.
         Sec. 32.073.  PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CENTER
  DESIGNATIONS. The rules adopted under Section 32.071(b) must
  prioritize awarding a designation under this subchapter to a health
  care entity or program that:
               (1)  offers fetal diagnosis and therapy through an
  extensive multi-specialty clinical program that is affiliated and
  collaborates extensively with a medical school in this state and an
  associated hospital facility that provides advanced maternal and
  neonatal care in accordance with its level of care designation
  received under Section 241.182;
               (2)  demonstrates a significant commitment to research
  in and advancing the field of fetal diagnosis and therapy;
               (3)  offers advanced training programs in fetal
  diagnosis and therapy; and
               (4)  integrates an advanced fetal care program with a
  program that provides appropriate long-term monitoring and
  follow-up care for patients.
         Sec. 32.074.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. The rules
  adopted under Section 32.071(b) must ensure that a health care
  entity or program that receives a center of excellence designation
  under this subchapter:
               (1)  provides or is affiliated with a hospital facility
  that provides advanced maternal and neonatal care in accordance
  with its level of care designation received under Section 241.182;
               (2)  implements and maintains a multidisciplinary
  health care team, including maternal fetal medicine specialists,
  pediatric and surgical specialists, neonatologists, nurses with
  specialized maternal and neonatal training, and other ancillary and
  support staff as appropriate to provide maternal, fetal, and
  neonatal services;
               (3)  establishes minimum criteria for medical staff,
  nursing staff, and ancillary and support personnel;
               (4)  measures short-term and long-term patient
  diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes; and
               (5)  provides to the department annual reports
  containing aggregate data on short-term and long-term diagnostic
  and therapeutic outcomes as requested or required by the department
  and makes those reports available to the public.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section
  32.071, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than
  March 1, 2017.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2017
  , the Department of
  State Health Services shall begin awarding designations required by
  Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act, to health care entities establishing eligibility under that
  subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2131 was passed by the House on May
  13, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 4, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2131 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 7,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2131 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor