HBA-MPM H.C.R. 279 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 279
By: Capelo
Public Health
5/10/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The ImmTrac Registry (registry) is a statewide immunization registry
created as part of a Texas Department of Health (TDH) initiative to
increase vaccination coverage for Texas children. The registry contains
records of 4.2 million children and 30.5 million immunization records and
is designed to provide accurate, complete, and current immunization records
to aid, coordinate, and promote efficient and cost-effective prevention and
control of childhood communicable diseases.  Under current law, TDH is
responsible for implementing and enforcing the registry to provide accurate
immunization records and is required to adopt guidelines to protect the
confidentiality of patients and inform the parents or guardians of each
patient about the registry. Current law also requires health care providers
who administer immunizations to persons under 18 years of age or insurance
companies or health maintenance organizations that pay for or reimburse
claims for the costs of such immunizations to provide the immunization
histories to TDH for the registry. However, the registry can further its
goal only if all statutory provisions are fully implemented and enforced
and all entities that are required to provide immunization histories to TDH
are made aware of and comply with reporting requirements.  House Concurrent
Resolution 279 directs TDH to adopt and enforce rules for the registry to
ensure that health care providers or health care insurers provide the
immunization histories of persons younger than 18 years of age to TDH so
that the immunization records the registry contains are accurate, complete,
and current. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Health in this
resolution. 

ANALYSIS

House Concurrent Resolution 279 directs the Texas Department of Health to
comply with current law by adopting and enforcing rules for the ImmTrac
Registry to ensure that health care providers or health care insurers
provide the immunization histories of persons younger than 18 years of age
to TDH so that the immunization records in the registry are the most
accurate, complete, and current records available.