HB4743 - Relating to the issuance of a single license for a hospital and a mobile stroke unit of the hospital.

      H.B. No. 4743         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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 4743 was passed by the House on May 8,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 4743 was passed by the Senate on May   26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor