TITLE health-services

Part XVI. Texas Health Care Information Council

Chapter 1301. Health Care Information

Subchapter E. Technical Advisory Committees

25 TAC §1301.62

The Texas Health Care Information Council (Council) proposes new §1301.62, relating to the Council's technical advisory committees (TACs). The Council is authorized by §108.003(g) of the Texas Health and Safety Code to appoint technical advisory committees. House Bill 1048, Acts 1995, 74th Legislature Chapter 726, §1, authorized the appointment of four specific technical advisory committees and set out the composition of the members of these committees. Senate Bill 802, Acts 1997, 75th Legislature Chapter 261, §3, authorized an additional technical advisory committee and its composition. The proposed sections implement §§2110.005 and 2110.008 of the Government Code which require state agencies to adopt rules governing their advisory committees, including rules on a committee's purpose, tasks and the manner in which it will report to the agency, and establishing the date on which a committee will automatically be abolished unless the governing body of the agency votes to continue the committee in existence.

The proposed section governs the current Quality Methods and Consumer Education TAC, the Peer Review and Provider Quality TAC, the Reimbursement of Medical Education and Research Costs TAC, the Health Maintenance Organizations TAC, which the Council initially appointed in 1996, and the Health Information Systems TAC, appointed in 1997. Proposed §1301.62 establishes the five advisory committees and sets forth their purposes and duties, their duration, the appointment process, membership, attendance requirements, and officers' selection and duties, and meeting procedures.

Jim Loyd, Executive Director, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed section is in effect there will be no foreseeable fiscal implications relating to costs or revenues of the state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the new section. The Council is the agency responsible for administration and enforcement of the proposed section and the adoption will require no additional staffing or agency resources to administer or enforce.

Mr. Loyd has also determined that for each year of the first five years the section, as proposed, will be in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the proposed section will be the opportunity for better understanding of the purposes and tasks of the TAC's and the manner the TAC's report to the Council. Additionally, for the same period of time, Mr. Loyd has determined that there should be no additional economic cost to persons required to comply with the section as proposed. There is no additional effect on small business separate from other persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed.

Comments on the proposed new section may be submitted to Jim Loyd, Executive Director, Texas Health Care Information Council, Brown-Heatly Building, 4900 North Lamar OOL-3407, Austin, Texas 78751-2399 no later than 30 days from the date that the proposed rule is published in the Texas Register .

The new section is proposed under the Health and Safety Code, §108.003(g) which the Council interprets as authorizing it to appoint technical advisory committees, §108.006(a)(3) which the Council interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules to implement its powers and duties under chapter 108, including its use of technical advisory committees, and §§2110.005 and 2110.008 of the Government Code which the Council interprets as requiring state agencies to adopt rules governing its advisory committees and to comply with specific requirements set forth in these statutes.

Health and Safety Code, §108.003(g) and §108.006(a)(3) and Government Code, §2110.005 and §2110.008 are affected by this proposal.

§1301.62.Technical Advisory Committees (TACs).

(a)

The Council establishes the following technical advisory committees listed in paragraphs (1)-(5) of this subsection for the purpose and task of providing advice and recommendations on rules and other Council action as determined by the Council and which are related to the subject matter areas identified in this section for each TAC:

(1)

Quality Methods and Consumer Education TAC, consisting of a number not to exceed 14 members, as determined by the executive committee:

(A)

the development and implementation of the methodology and the interpretation of data relating to provider quality as provided in §108.010 of the Health and Safety Code; and

(B)

the development and dissemination of consumer education information and materials;

(2)

Peer Review and Provider Quality TAC, consisting of a number not to exceed 11 members, as determined by the executive committee:

(A)

the use of peer review in the determination of quality patient care;

(B)

the development and interpretation of data elements necessary to the determination of quality patient care; and

(C)

the development and format of reports and information relating to provider quality;

(3)

Reimbursement of Medical Education and Research Costs TAC, consisting of a number not to exceed 8 members, as determined by the executive committee:

(A)

issues pertaining to the reimbursement of medical education; and

(B)

issues pertaining to the reimbursement of research costs;

(4)

Health Maintenance Organizations TAC, consisting of a number not to exceed 8 members, as determined by the executive committee:

(A)

development of data collection requirements for health benefit plans to assist the Council in complying with §108.009(o) of the Health and Safety Code; and

(B)

development of methods, standards and formats for the public reporting of data pertaining to health maintenance organizations;

(5)

Health Information Systems TAC, consisting of a number not to exceed 7 members, as determined by the executive committee:

(A)

development of methods for data collection and warehousing; and

(B)

development of methods for linking existing and future databases.

(b)

Each TAC is abolished on August 31, 2003 unless the Council amends this subsection to establish a different date.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on February 8, 1999.

TRD-9900806

Jim Loyd

Executive Director

Texas Health Care Information Council

Earliest possible date of adoption: March 21, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6490