HBA-NRS H.B. 2408 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2408
By: Maxey
Public Health
7/18/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

One of the purposes of licensing health professionals is to document and
consider consumer complaints ranging from a health professional's rude
behavior to serious ethical violations. There are several different health
professional licensing agencies in Texas and each agency manages the
complex complaint process in a different manner. For instance, some
agencies document more complaints than others and complaint severity
classifications differ among agencies, which may cause confusion for health
care consumers. House Bill 2408 requires the Health Professions Council to
study the complaint procedures of specific state health care entities and
to develop a report with recommendations for a standard procedure for the
handling of such complaints.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2408 requires the Health Professions Council to study the
complaint procedures for certain health care professional licensing
agencies, including the process by which the complaint information is
compiled and handled, the process by which complaints are adjudicated and
resolved, and the extent to which complaint information is made available
to the public. The bill requires the Health Professions Council to deliver
to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives,
not later than January 1, 2003, a report on the study. The report must
include any recommendations for a standard procedure for the handling of
complaints and a method that provides the most complete public access to
complaint information.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 15, 2001.