(a) Use of grant funds. A grant recipient uses grant
funds awarded under this chapter:
(1) to purchase equipment necessary for implementing
telemedicine medical services;
(2) to modernize the facility's information technology
infrastructure and secure information technology support to ensure
an uninterrupted two-way video signal that is compliant with the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No.
104-191), as referenced in Texas Government Code, §541.003;
(3) to pay a contracted pediatric tele-specialty provider
for telemedicine medical services; or
(4) to pay for other activities, services, supplies,
facilities, resources, and equipment that HHSC determines necessary
for the grant recipient to use telemedicine medical services.
(b) Role of HHSC. HHSC will administer funding in the
form of grants to an eligible nonurban health care facility.
(c) Grant eligibility requirements. To be eligible
for a grant under this chapter, a nonurban health care facility must:
(1) have a quality assurance program that measures
the compliance of the facility's health care providers with the facility's
medical protocols;
(2) have at least one full-time equivalent physician,
on staff, who has training and experience in pediatrics and one person
who is responsible for ongoing nursery and neonatal support and care;
(3) have a designated neonatal intensive care unit
or an emergency department;
(4) have a commitment to obtaining neonatal or pediatric
education from a tertiary facility to expand the facility's depth
and breadth of telemedicine medical service capabilities; and
(5) have the capability of maintaining records and
producing reports that measure the effectiveness of a grant received
by the facility under this chapter.
(d) Role of the stakeholder workgroup. HHSC may establish
a stakeholder workgroup to assist HHSC:
(1) in developing, implementing, and evaluating the
Grant Program; and
(2) in preparing a report on the results and outcomes
of the grants awarded under this chapter.
(e) Stakeholder workgroup member compensation. A stakeholder
workgroup member is not entitled to any form of compensation for serving
on the workgroup and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses
incurred while conducting the business of the workgroup.
(f) Compliance. A grant recipient must comply with:
(1) the requirements described in this chapter; and
(2) all other applicable state and federal laws, rules,
regulations, policies, and guidelines.
(g) Program evaluation. HHSC evaluates the use of grant
funds based on criteria as defined by HHSC.
(h) Grant funding distribution. HHSC distributes funding
on a schedule defined by HHSC.
(i) Reporting responsibilities and protocol. No later
than December 1 of each even-numbered year, HHSC reports the results
and outcomes of grants awarded under this chapter to the Governor
and members of the Legislature. The report is comprised of information
provided by the grant recipient as defined by HHSC.
(j) Audits. A grant recipient is subject to audit and
recovery of grant funds by the HHSC Office of the Inspector General,
as provided in 1 TAC, §371.11 (relating to Scope).
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