Bill Text: TX HB3161 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of community paramedicine programs to coordinate health care services and improve health care provision.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-19 - Referred to Public Health [HB3161 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB3161-Introduced.html

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87R9866 KKR-D
By: Martinez H.B. No. 3161

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of community paramedicine programs to
coordinate health care services and improve health care provision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 776 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 776. COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM
Sec. 776.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Emergency medical services personnel" has the
meaning assigned by Section 773.003.
(2) "ET3 program" means the federal Emergency Triage,
Treat, and Transport program of the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services.
(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(4) "Paramedicine program" means a collaborative
program between health care practitioners, health care facilities,
and emergency medical services personnel established under this
chapter.
Sec. 776.002. PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of a
paramedicine program is to create collaborative relationships
between health care practitioners, health care facilities, and
emergency medical services personnel to improve patient care access
and management, patient health outcomes, cost-effectiveness in the
use of health care services, and community population health.
Sec. 776.003. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) A municipality
or county may establish a paramedicine program under this chapter.
(b) The municipality or county may structure the program in
a manner to qualify for federal funding under the ET3 program.
Sec. 776.004. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. (a) Under a
paramedicine program, health care practitioners, health care
facilities, and emergency medical services personnel may establish
partnerships and develop and implement a plan for providing
collaborative health services to at-risk individuals living in the
community, including providing services to:
(1) prevent:
(A) emergencies;
(B) avoidable use of emergency rooms;
(C) avoidable transport; and
(D) potentially avoidable hospital admissions
and readmissions; and
(2) provide:
(A) health care services; and
(B) behavioral health services to individuals
with behavioral health conditions or developmental or intellectual
disabilities.
(b) The plan must focus on the delivery of health care
services to patients with chronic conditions or limited mobility.
(c) The plan may:
(1) include orientation and collaborative training
for health care providers and emergency medical services personnel
participating in the plan; and
(2) incorporate health benefit plan issuers and
service organizations as considered necessary to implement a
successful plan.
Sec. 776.005. RULES. The executive commissioner shall
adopt rules to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.