H.B. No. 2848
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to consultations with contracted physician networks and
  physician systems during certain investigations of child abuse and
  neglect.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 261.3017 to read as follows:
         Sec. 261.3017.  CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIAN NETWORKS AND
  SYSTEMS REGARDING CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Network" means the Forensic Assessment Center
  Network.
               (2)  "System" means the entities that receive grants
  under the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System
  (MEDCARES) authorized by Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  Any agreement between the department and the network or
  between the Department of State Health Services and the system to
  provide assistance in connection with abuse and neglect
  investigations conducted by the department must require the network
  and the system to have the ability to obtain consultations with
  physicians, including radiologists, geneticists, and
  endocrinologists, who specialize in identifying unique health
  conditions, including:
               (1)  rickets;
               (2)  Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome;
               (3)  osteogenesis imperfecta;
               (4)  vitamin D deficiency; and
               (5)  other similar metabolic bone diseases or
  connective tissue disorders.
         (c)  If, during an abuse or neglect investigation or an
  assessment provided under Subsection (b), the department or a
  physician in the network determines that a child requires a
  specialty consultation with a physician, the department or the
  physician shall refer the child's case to the system for the
  consultation, if the system has available capacity to take the
  child's case.
         (d)  In providing assessments to the department as provided
  by Subsection (b), the network and the system must use a blind peer
  review process to resolve cases where physicians in the network or
  system disagree in the assessment of the causes of a child's
  injuries or in the presence of a condition listed under Subsection
  (b).
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an agreement entered into or renewed on or after the effective date
  of this Act.
         
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2848 on May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2848 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor