Curry Bill Creates Health Records Loans Capped At 1 Percent

The text as introduced · 536 words

89R8514 LRM-D

By: Curry
H.B. No. 5098

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an electronic health record loan

program for certain health care facilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 183 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 183. ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD LOAN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Sec. 183.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Health care facility" means a facility licensed

to provide health care services. The term includes a nursing

facility licensed under Chapter 242, a continuing care facility

regulated under Chapter 246, an assisted living facility licensed

under Chapter 247, and a mental hospital or other mental health

facility licensed under Chapter 577. The term does not include an

abortion provider or a diagnostic, laboratory, or imaging center.

(2) "Loan program" and "program" mean the loan program

established under this chapter.

Sec. 183.002. LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The executive

commissioner by rule shall, in coordination with the comptroller,

establish a loan program to provide loans to health care facilities

to purchase and implement electronic health record systems to

ensure streamlined communication between health care facilities

regarding patient health records.

(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish:

(1) eligibility criteria for health care facilities to

receive a loan under this chapter;

(2) loan application procedures;

(3) guidelines relating to loan amounts, terms, and

repayment schedules;

(4) procedures for evaluating loan applications; and

(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a loan

awarded under the loan program and ensuring compliance with any

conditions of the loan.

(c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must include a

preference for granting loans to health care facilities that:

(1) provide services in medically underserved or rural

areas; or

(2) provide services to Medicaid recipients.

(d) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and

donations from public and private entities to use for the purposes

of this chapter.

(e) The commission may make a loan under this chapter using

money appropriated to the commission for that purpose or gifts,

grants, and donations received under Subsection (d).

Sec. 183.003. ADMINISTRATION OF LOAN PROGRAM. A loan made

by the commission under the loan program:

(1) must bear an interest rate not to exceed one

percent and be made for a term not to exceed 10 years; and

(2) may be awarded in an amount necessary to assist a

health care facility purchase and implement an electronic health

record system, not to exceed:

(A) 80 percent of the cost of purchasing and

implementing an electronic health record system for a health care

facility described by Section 183.002(c); or

(B) 50 percent of the cost of purchasing and

implementing an electronic health record system for a health care

facility not described by Section 183.002(c).

Sec. 183.004. RULEMAKING. The executive commissioner shall

adopt rules necessary to administer this chapter.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement

Chapter 183, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.