$200M Clinic Grant Program Only Fits A Few Counties

The text as introduced · 646 words

90R3834 LRM-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 147

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a community health clinic grant program.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

designating Section 64.001 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter

heading to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A. TEACHING HOSPITAL ACCOUNT

SECTION 2. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter B to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 64.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Charitable clinic" means a private, nonprofit,

community-based organization that provides health care services to

low-income, underinsured, or uninsured individuals at nominal or no

cost through the use of volunteer health care professionals and

health care professional partnerships.

(2) "Community health clinic" means a

community-driven, nonprofit health clinic located in a medically

underserved area or serving populations that are medically

underserved. The term includes:

(A) a community health center;

(B) a federally qualified health center, as

defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B);

(C) a rural health clinic; and

(D) a charitable clinic.

(3) "Grant program" means the community health clinic

grant program established under this subchapter.

Sec. 64.052. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT

PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and

the commission shall administer a community health clinic grant

program to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes,

reduce health disparities, and achieve health equity in medically

underserved areas of this state by:

(1) improving the provision of preventative care,

screening, and treatment for chronic health conditions, including

diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; and

(2) strengthening the availability and capacity of

community health clinics to provide affordable, high-quality

health care services to medically underserved individuals.

Sec. 64.053. APPLICATION. (a) A community health clinic

may apply to the commission to receive money under the grant program

if the clinic:

(1) is located in a county with a population of 800,000

or more, adjacent to a county with a population of 4 million or

more; and

(2) either:

(A) operates in a medically underserved area of

the county; or

(B) serves a medically underserved population in

the county.

(b) An application submitted under this section must

identify the specific purpose for which the grant is requested,

such as preventative care, screening, or treatment for diabetes,

hypertension, or obesity.

Sec. 64.054. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) The executive

commissioner, by rule, shall establish eligibility criteria for the

commission to award grants under the grant program.

(b) The commission may award a grant under the grant program

to an eligible applicant for the specific purpose identified in the

application under Section 64.053(b).

(c) The amount of a grant awarded under this section for a

specific purpose identified in the application under Section

64.053(b) may not exceed $5 million.

(d) A community health clinic may apply for and be awarded

multiple grants, provided each grant is awarded for a specific

purpose identified in the application.

Sec. 64.055. USE OF GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient may use

money awarded under the grant program only for the specific purpose

identified in the application under Section 64.053(b). The

executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing the use of money

awarded under the grant program.

Sec. 64.056. FUNDING. The commission shall award grants as

provided by this subchapter using money appropriated to the

commission for that purpose. Out of the appropriated money, the

commission shall allocate $200 million each fiscal biennium for

grant awards under this subchapter.

Sec. 64.057. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt

rules necessary to implement and administer this subchapter.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2028, the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter B, Chapter 64,

Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.