bill allowing one license for a hospital and stroke unit

The text as introduced · 517 words

89R14531 MPF-D

By: Campbell
S.B. No. 2479

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of a single license for a hospital and a

mobile stroke unit of the hospital.

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

SECTION 1. Section 241.023, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by amending Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) and adding

Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(c-1) The department may issue :

(1) one license for multiple hospitals if:

(A) [ (1) ] all buildings in which inpatients

receive hospital services and inpatient services of each of the

hospitals to be included in the license are subject to the control

and direction of the same governing body;

(B) [ (2) ] all buildings in which inpatients

receive hospital services are within a 30-mile radius of the main

address of the applicant;

(C) [ (3) ] there is integration of the organized

medical staff of each of the hospitals to be included in the

license;

(D) [ (4) ] there is a single chief executive

officer for all of the hospitals who reports directly to the

governing body and through whom all administrative authority flows

and who exercises control and surveillance over all administrative

activities of the hospital;

(E) [ (5) ] there is a single chief medical officer

for all of the hospitals who reports directly to the governing body

and who is responsible for all medical staff activities of the

hospital;

(F) [ (6) ] each building of a hospital to be

included in the license that is geographically separate from other

buildings of the same hospital contains at least one nursing unit

for inpatients, unless providing only diagnostic or laboratory

services, or a combination of diagnostic or laboratory services, in

the building for hospital inpatients; and

(G) [ (7) ] each hospital that is to be included in

the license complies with the emergency services standards:

(i) [ (A) ] for a general hospital, if the

hospital provides surgery or obstetrical care or both; or

(ii) [ (B) ] for a special hospital, if the

hospital does not provide surgery or obstetrical care ; and

(2) one license for a hospital and a mobile stroke unit

of the hospital if the mobile stroke unit is accredited by a health

care accreditation organization approved by the Centers for

Medicare and Medicaid Services .

(c-2) The department may recommend a waiver of the

requirement of Subsection (c-1)(1)(G) [ (c-1)(7) ] for a hospital if

another hospital that is to be included in the license:

(1) complies with the emergency services standards for

a general hospital; and

(2) is in close geographic proximity to the hospital.

(h) Subsection (g) does not apply to a license issued to a

mobile stroke unit of a hospital under Subsection (c-1)(2).

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

Section 241.023(c-1), Health and Safety Code, as amended by this

Act.

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