H.B. No. 5098 establishes a new loan program aimed at providing financial assistance to certain health care facilities for the purchase, implementation, and maintenance of interoperable care coordination solutions, including electronic health record systems. The bill introduces Chapter 183 to the Health and Safety Code, defining eligible health care facilities and outlining the program's structure. It specifies that the executive commissioner will set eligibility criteria, application procedures, and guidelines for loan amounts and repayment schedules. The program will prioritize loans for facilities serving medically underserved or rural areas and those providing services to Medicaid recipients.

The loans provided under this program will have a maximum interest rate of one percent and a term not exceeding ten years. The funding for these loans will come from appropriated money or donations received by the commission. The bill also mandates the executive commissioner to adopt necessary rules for the administration of the loan program. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and requires the executive commissioner to implement the rules as soon as practicable after the effective date.

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