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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine |
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medical services and telehealth services in rural areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 771, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES |
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AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES PILOT PROJECT |
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Sec. 771.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Center" means the area health education center at |
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the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center that meets the |
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requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section 294a and has been awarded federal |
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funding as an area health education center. |
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(2) "Emergency medical services" means services used |
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to respond to an individual's perceived need for immediate medical |
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care and to prevent death or aggravation of physiological or |
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psychological illness or injury. |
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(3) "Emergency medical services provider" means a |
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person who uses or maintains emergency medical services vehicles, |
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medical equipment, and emergency medical services personnel to |
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provide emergency medical services. |
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(4) "Emergency prehospital care" means care provided |
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to a sick or injured individual before or during transportation of |
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the individual to a medical facility, and includes any necessary |
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stabilization of the individual in connection with that |
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transportation. |
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(5) "Pilot project" means a pilot project established |
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under Section 771.152. |
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(6) "Regional trauma resource center" means a trauma |
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facility the center selects to participate in the pilot project. |
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(7) "Rural area" means: |
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(A) a county with a population of 50,000 or less; |
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or |
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(B) a large, isolated, and sparsely populated |
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area of a county with a population of more than 50,000. |
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(8) "Telehealth service" and "telemedicine medical |
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service" have the meanings assigned by Section 111.001, Occupations |
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Code. |
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(9) "Trauma facility" means a health care facility |
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equipped and staffed to provide comprehensive treatment of |
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seriously injured individuals as part of an emergency medical |
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services and trauma care system. |
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Sec. 771.152. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. (a) The |
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commission, with the assistance of the center, shall establish a |
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pilot project to provide emergency medical services instruction and |
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emergency prehospital care instruction through a telemedicine |
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medical service or telehealth service provided by regional trauma |
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resource centers to: |
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(1) health care providers in rural area trauma |
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facilities; and |
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(2) emergency medical services providers in rural |
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areas. |
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(b) The commission shall provide technical assistance to |
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the center in implementing the pilot project. |
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(c) The center, with the assistance of the commission, |
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shall: |
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(1) design criteria and protocols for each |
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telemedicine medical service or telehealth service offered and the |
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related instruction, and provide the oversight necessary to conduct |
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the pilot project; |
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(2) define criteria to determine when a telemedicine |
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medical service or telehealth service that provides instruction for |
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emergency medical services, emergency prehospital care, and trauma |
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care should be transferred to an emergency medical resource center |
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for intervention; and |
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(3) collect the data necessary to evaluate the |
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project. |
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(d) The center may make available appropriate resources for |
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individuals who do not speak English. |
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Sec. 771.153. PERSONNEL. The center shall provide the |
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telemedicine medical service or telehealth service and related |
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instruction for the pilot project through health care providers in |
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