Bill Text: TX SB1621 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to certain rural medical facilities; requiring a license; authorizing fees and taxes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-10 - Effective on 9/1/19 [SB1621 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1621-Introduced.html

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86R8743 JCG-F
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1621

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a license for certain rural medical
facilities; requiring a license; authorizing fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. LIMITED SERVICES RURAL HOSPITAL
Sec. 241.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "limited
services rural hospital" means a general hospital that is or was
licensed under this chapter that:
(1) is located in a rural area, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
Section 1395ww(d)(2)(D);
(2) is owned by a hospital district or hospital
authority; and
(3) otherwise meets the requirements to be designated
as a limited services rural hospital or a similarly designated
hospital under federal law.
Sec. 241.302. LICENSE REQUIRED; FEES. (a) A person may not
establish, conduct, or maintain a limited services rural hospital
unless:
(1) the United States Congress passes a bill creating
a payment program specifically for limited services rural hospitals
or similarly designated hospitals that becomes law; and
(2) the commission issues a license to the person to
establish, conduct, or maintain a limited services rural hospital
under this subchapter.
(b) If the United States Congress enacts a bill described by
Subsection (a)(1) that becomes law, the commission shall adopt
rules:
(1) establishing minimum standards for the
facilities; and
(2) implementing this section.
(c) The standards adopted under Subsection (b) must be at
least as stringent as the standards established in the law
described by Subsection (a) for eligibility to qualify for a
payment program established by the law.
(d) An applicant for a license under this section must:
(1) submit an application for the license to the
commission in a form and manner prescribed by the commission; and
(2) pay any required fee.
(e) The commission shall issue a license to act as a limited
services rural hospital under this subchapter if the applicant
complies with the rules and standards adopted under this section.
(f) The commission by order may waive or modify the
requirement of a particular provision of this chapter or a standard
adopted under this section if the commission determines that the
waiver or modification will facilitate the creation or operation of
the facility and that the waiver or modification is in the best
interests of the individuals served or to be served by the facility.
Sections 241.026(d) and (e) apply to a waiver or modification under
this section for a limited services rural hospital in the same
manner as the subsections apply to a waiver or modification for a
hospital.
(g) A provision of this chapter related to the enforcement
authority of the commission applies to a limited services rural
hospital.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.