89R22204 LRM-D By: Curry H.B. No. 5098 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5098: By: VanDeaver C.S.H.B. No. 5098 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment of an interoperable care coordination solution loan program for certain health care facilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 183 to read as follows: CHAPTER 183. INTEROPERABLE CARE COORDINATION SOLUTION LOAN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES Sec. 183.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Health care facility" means a facility licensed to provide health care services. The term includes a nursing facility licensed under Chapter 242, a continuing care facility regulated under Chapter 246, an assisted living facility licensed under Chapter 247, and a mental hospital or other mental health facility licensed under Chapter 577. The term does not include: (A) an abortion provider, as defined by Section 171.002; (B) a diagnostic, laboratory, or imaging center; (C) a hospital licensed under Chapter 241; (D) a boarding home facility, as defined by Section 260.001, that holds a permit issued under Chapter 260; or (E) a center for independent living, as defined by Section 702 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 796a). (2) "Loan program" means the loan program established under this chapter. Sec. 183.002. LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish a loan program to provide loans to health care facilities to purchase, implement, and sustain interoperable care coordination solutions, including electronic health record systems, to ensure streamlined communication between health care facilities regarding patient health records. (b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish: (1) eligibility criteria for health care facilities to receive a loan under this chapter; (2) loan application procedures; (3) guidelines relating to loan amounts, terms, and repayment schedules; (4) procedures for evaluating loan applications; and (5) procedures for monitoring the use of a loan awarded under the loan program and ensuring compliance with any conditions of the loan. (c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must include a preference for granting loans to health care facilities that: (1) provide services in medically underserved or rural areas; or (2) provide services to Medicaid recipients. (d) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private entities to use for the purposes of this chapter. (e) The commission shall make a loan under this chapter using money appropriated to the commission for that purpose or gifts, grants, and donations received under Subsection (d). Sec. 183.003. ADMINISTRATION OF LOAN PROGRAM. A loan made by the commission under the loan program: (1) must bear an interest rate not to exceed one percent and be made for a term not to exceed 10 years; and (2) may be awarded in an amount necessary to assist a health care facility purchase, implement, and sustain interoperable care coordination solutions, including an electronic health record system, not to exceed: (A) 80 percent of the cost of purchasing, implementing, and sustaining interoperable care coordination solutions for a health care facility described by Section 183.002(c); or (B) 50 percent of the cost of purchasing, implementing, and sustaining interoperable care coordination solutions for a health care facility not described by Section 183.002(c). Sec. 183.004. RULEMAKING. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to administer this chapter. 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 Chapter 183, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.