Sec. 46.003. TERTIARY CARE ACCOUNT

(a) The tertiary care account is an account in the state treasury. Except as by Subsection (e), money in the account may be appropriated only to the department for the purposes of this chapter.

(b) The account is composed of money appropriated to the account and any other funds required to be put in the account.

(c) The department may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private entity on behalf of the account.

(d) Section 403.095, Government Code, does not apply to the account.

(e) For each fiscal year, five percent of the total amount in the account shall be held in reserve and may be used only for reimbursement of unpaid tertiary medical services and stabilization services provided as a result of extraordinary emergencies occurring during that year. Of the amount remaining:

(1) not more than five percent may be used for the costs of administering the account;

(2) five percent shall be allocated for the payment of state assistance under Chapter 61; and

(3) the remaining amount shall be allocated as provided by Subsection (f).

(f) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the account shall be allocated for payment to tertiary care facilities and level IV trauma centers for unreimbursed tertiary medical services and stabilization services, as provided for in Sections 46.005 and 46.006.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 969, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1377, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1128, Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2001.