· Here’s an update on legislation of importance to medicine
that has already been signed into law (as of June 12).
House Bill 25
by Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint), creates a pilot program to streamline
nonemergent medical transportation services in Medicaid and allow children to
accompany their pregnant mothers on doctor’s visits. The legislation was
signed on June 10 and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 39
by Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond), was signed by the Governor on May 24 and
became effective immediately. The legislation repeals the 2022 sunset
date for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and
extends it by 10 years.
·
House Bill 1065 by
Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), creates a grant program to develop residency
training tracks to prepare physicians for practice in rural, underserved
settings. The legislation was signed on June 10 and took effect
immediately.
·
House Bill 1256,
by Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), relates to access by certain persons to a
first responder’s immunization history. The Governor signed the
legislation on May 28 and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 1418 also
by Rep. Phelan, provides first responders and emergency services personnel
with their immunization status when they seek certification or
recertification. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 27 and took
effect immediately.
·
House Bill 1532 by
Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas), creates a complaint process at the TMB for
employed physicians to use. The bill was signed on June 10 and takes
effect on Sept. 1, 2019, except Sec. 162.005(b) of the Occupations Code, which
takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
·
House Bill 1693 by
Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo), relates to medical expense affidavits
concerning cost and necessity of services. The legislation was signed on
June 10 and takes effect on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 1848 by
Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth), establishes infection control programs in
long-term care facilities. The legislation was signed on June 10 and
becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 2088 by
Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview), requires health care professionals dispensing
controlled substance prescriptions to provide written notice of the closest
safe disposal location and other safe disposal methods available. The
legislation was signed on June 10 and takes effect on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 2425
by Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station), relates to the authority of physicians
to delegate to certain pharmacists the implementation and modification of a
patient’s drug therapy. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 24 and
becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 2813 by
Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo), codifies in statute the statewide behavioral
health coordinating council that lawmakers established in 2015. The
Governor signed the legislation on June 10 and became effective immediately.
·
House Bill 3041 by
Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie), allows for renewal of a prior
authorization if it expires before the patient receives the medical service or
procedure. The legislation was signed on June 7 and becomes effective on
Sept. 1, 2019.
·
House Bill 3552 by
Rep. JD Sheffield (R-Gatesville), institutes a required 60-day notification
period for reduction or termination of community water fluoridation.
·
Senate Bill 11
by Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), addresses school safety, including
substance use and mental health services. The bill was signed on June 6
and became effective immediately.
·
Senate Bill 21 by
Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), raises the minimum age to purchase tobacco and
vape products to 21 years, exempting active duty military. The bill was
signed on June 7 and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
Senate Bill 384 by
Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), requires all health care facilities to
report all health care-affiliated infections. The legislation was signed
on June 7 and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
Senate Bill 436 also
by Sen. Nelson, provides for improved care for high-risk pregnancies. The
legislation was signed into law on June 7 and took effect immediately.
·
Senate Bill 749 by
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), addresses physician and hospital concerns
about how to implement hospital neonatal and maternal level of care
designations, which state law previously directed the Department of State
Health Services (DSHS) to establish. The bill was signed on June 10 and
took effect immediately.
·
Senate Bill 750 also
by Sen. Kolkhorst, improves maternal access to prenatal and postpartum
care. This legislation was also signed on June 10, becoming effective
immediately.
·
Senate Bill 752 by
Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), relates to the liability of volunteer health
care providers and health care institutions for care, assistance or advice
provided in relation to a disaster. The Governor signed the legislation
on May 20 and takes effect on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
Senate Bill 1207 by
Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), requires more explicit prior authorization
procedures and denial notices for both patients and physicians. The bill
was signed on June 10 and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2019.
·
Senate Bill 1378,
by Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway), relates to meeting the graduate medical
education needs of medical degree programs offered or proposed by public
institutions of higher education. The bill was signed by the Governor on
May 20 and took effect immediately.
·
Senate Bill 1519 also
by Sen. Kolkhorst, establishes a statewide council on long-term care facilities
as a permanent advisory committee to the Health and Human Services Commission
(HHSC). The bill was signed by the Governor on June 10 and took effect
immediately.
·
Senate Bill 1564 by
Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), requires Medicaid to cover medication-assisted
treatment (MAT) for opioid- or substance-use disorder without requiring prior
authorization or precertification. The legislation was signed by the
Governor on June 10 and became effective immediately.
