The bill, H.B. No. 1621, proposes the establishment of a matching grant program aimed at enhancing technological capabilities in hospitals that provide mental health care services in Texas. It introduces a new subchapter, Subchapter K, to Chapter 547 of the Government Code, which outlines the program's applicability, eligibility criteria for hospitals, and acceptable uses of grant funds. To qualify for the grants, hospitals must demonstrate their planned use of the funds to improve mental health care quality and access, align with interoperability standards set by the 21st Century Cures Act, and meet any additional criteria established by the commission.

The bill mandates that hospitals receiving grants must provide matching funds from non-state sources equal to the grant amount, which can be sourced through gifts, grants, or donations. It specifies acceptable uses for the grant money, including purchasing data recording platforms, expanding interoperability, improving patient access to digital health records, enhancing IT infrastructure for data privacy, and increasing the efficiency of mental health service provision. Additionally, the commission is authorized to solicit and accept donations to support the program and is required to submit a biennial report to the legislature on the program's outcomes. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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