Tex. Health & Safety Code Section 161.473
Discrimination on Basis of Disability Prohibited


(a)

A health care provider may not, solely on the basis of an individual’s disability:

(1)

determine an individual is ineligible to receive an organ transplant;

(2)

deny medical or other services related to an organ transplant, including evaluation, surgery, counseling, and postoperative treatment;

(3)

refuse to refer the individual to a transplant center or other related specialist for evaluation or receipt of an organ transplant; or

(4)

refuse to place the individual on an organ transplant waiting list or place the individual at a position lower in priority on the list than the position the individual would have been placed if not for the individual’s disability.

(b)

Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a health care provider may consider an individual’s disability when making a treatment recommendation or decision solely to the extent that a physician, following an individualized evaluation of the potential transplant recipient, determines the disability is medically significant to the organ transplant. This section does not require a referral or recommendation for, or the performance of, a medically inappropriate organ transplant.

(c)

A health care provider may not consider an individual’s inability to independently comply with post-transplant medical requirements as medically significant for the purposes of Subsection (b) if the individual has:

(1)

a known disability; and

(2)

the necessary support system to assist the individual in reasonably complying with the requirements.

(d)

A health care facility shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures as necessary to allow individuals with a disability access to organ transplant-related services, including transplant-related counseling, information, or treatment, unless the health care facility can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the services or would impose an undue hardship on the facility. Reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures may include:

(1)

communicating with persons supporting or assisting with the individual’s postsurgical and post-transplant care, including medication; and

(2)

considering the support available to the individual in determining whether the individual is able to reasonably comply with post-transplant medical requirements, including support provided by:

(A)

family;

(B)

friends; or

(C)

home and community-based services, including home and community-based services funded by:
(i)
Medicaid;
(ii)
Medicare;
(iii)
a health plan in which the individual is enrolled; or
(iv)
any other program or source of funding available to the individual.

(e)

A health care provider shall make reasonable efforts to comply with the policies, practices, and procedures, as applicable, developed by a health care facility under Subsection (d), as necessary to allow an individual with a known disability access to organ transplant-related services, including transplant-related counseling, information, or treatment, unless the health care provider can demonstrate that compliance would fundamentally alter the nature of the services or would impose an undue hardship on the health care provider.

(f)

A health care provider shall make reasonable efforts to provide auxiliary aids and services to an individual with a known disability seeking organ transplant-related services, including organ transplant-related counseling, information, or treatment, as necessary to allow the individual access to those services, unless the health care provider can demonstrate that providing the transplant-related services with auxiliary aids and services present would fundamentally alter the transplant-related services provided or would impose an undue hardship on the health care provider.

(g)

A health care provider shall comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.) to the extent that Act applies to a health care provider. This subsection may not be construed to require a health care provider to comply with that Act if the Act does not otherwise require compliance by the health care provider.

(h)

This section applies to each stage of the organ transplant process.

(i)

A violation of this section is grounds for disciplinary action by the regulatory agency that issued a license, certificate, or other authority to a health care provider who committed the violation. Before a regulatory agency may take disciplinary action against a health care provider for a violation, the applicable regulatory agency shall:

(1)

notify the health care provider of the agency’s finding that the health care provider has violated or is violating this section or a rule adopted under this section; and

(2)

provide the health care provider with an opportunity to correct the violation without penalty or reprimand.

(j)

A physician who in good faith makes a determination that an individual’s disability is medically significant to the organ transplant, as described by Subsection (b), does not violate this section.

(k)

A health care provider who in good faith makes a treatment recommendation or decision on the basis of a physician’s determination that an individual’s disability is medically significant to the organ transplant, as described by Subsection (b), does not violate this section.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 45 (H.B. 119), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2021.

Source: Section 161.473 — Discrimination on Basis of Disability Prohibited, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.­161.­htm#161.­473 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

161.0001
Definitions
161.001
Liability of Person Who Orders or Administers Immunization
161.002
Inadmissibility of Immunization Survey Information
161.003
Immunization Reminder Notices
161.004
Statewide Immunization of Children
161.005
Immunizations Required
161.006
Department Immunization Service
161.007
Immunization Registry
161.008
Immunization Record
161.009
Penalties for Disclosure of Information
161.010
Immunization Education
161.011
Permission Required
161.012
Criminal Penalties
161.021
Authorization to Provide Information
161.022
Use and Publication Restrictions
161.023
No Liability for Reports to Medical Committee
161.024
Application to Health Maintenance Organization
161.031
Medical Committee Defined
161.032
Records and Proceedings Confidential
161.033
Immunity for Committee Members
161.041
Mandatory Reporting of Gunshot Wounds
161.0041
Immunization Exemption Affidavit Form
161.042
Mandatory Reporting of Controlled Substance Overdoses
161.043
Criminal Penalty
161.044
Controlled Substance Overdose Information Repository
161.045
Mandatory Reporting of Controlled Substance Overdoses for Public Safety Mapping
161.0051
Required Immunizations for Nursing Homes
161.0052
Immunization of Elderly Persons by Hospitals, End Stage Renal Disease Facilities, and Physicians’ Offices
161.061
Laboratory Information Required
161.062
Grounds for License Denial
161.071
Minimum Guidelines for Human Donor Milk Banks
161.0071
Notice of Receipt of Registry Data
161.0072
Providing Immunization Information to Department
161.0073
Registry Confidentiality
161.0074
Report to Legislature
161.0075
Immunity from Liability
161.0076
Compliance with Federal Law
161.081
Definitions
161.084
Warning Notice
161.085
Notification of Employees and Agents
161.086
Vendor Assisted Sales Required
161.087
Distribution of Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, or Tobacco Products
161.088
Enforcement
161.089
Preemption of Local Law
161.090
Reports of Violation
161.0095
Education Programs and Information
161.0101
Increase Immunization Awareness
161.101
Tests for Exposure to Lead
161.0102
Vaccines for Children Program
161.0104
Disaster Preparation
161.0105
Limitation on Liability
161.0106
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
161.0107
Electronic Medical Records Systems
161.0108
Injunction
161.0109
Human Papillomavirus
161.121
Definitions
161.122
Prohibition Relating to Certain Signs
161.123
Advertising Fee
161.125
Administrative Penalty
161.131
Definitions
161.132
Reports of Abuse and Neglect or of Illegal, Unprofessional, or Unethical Conduct
161.133
Inservice Training
161.134
Retaliation Against Employees Prohibited
161.135
Retaliation Against Nonemployees Prohibited
161.136
Brochure Relating to Sexual Exploitation
161.137
Penalties
161.201
Definition
161.202
Fees
161.203
Distribution of Records
161.204
Application of Other Law
161.0211
Epidemiologic or Toxicologic Investigations
161.0212
Right of Entry
161.0213
Confidentiality
161.251
Definitions
161.252
Possession, Purchase, Consumption, or Receipt of Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, or Tobacco Products by Minors Prohibited
161.253
E-cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program
161.255
Expungement of Conviction
161.256
Jurisdiction of Courts
161.257
Application of Other Law
161.301
Tobacco and E-cigarette Use Public Awareness Campaign
161.302
Grant Program for Youth Groups
161.0315
Authority of Governing Body to Form Committee to Evaluate Medical and Health Care Services
161.351
Definitions
161.352
Report to Department
161.354
Public Information
161.355
Injunction
161.356
Compliance with Federal Law
161.401
Definitions
161.402
Material Safety Data Sheet Required
161.403
Injunction
161.404
Civil Penalty
161.405
Recovery of Costs
161.406
Administrative Penalty
161.407
Remedies Cumulative
161.451
Definitions
161.452
Requirements for Delivery Sales
161.453
Age Verification Requirement
161.454
Disclosure Requirements
161.456
Registration and Reporting Requirements
161.457
Collection of Taxes
161.458
General Offenses
161.459
Knowing Violation
161.460
Civil Penalty for Nonpayment of Tax
161.461
Forfeiture
161.462
Enforcement
161.471
Definitions
161.472
Formation of Kidney Sharing Pool and Distribution to Longest Waiting Patients
161.473
Discrimination on Basis of Disability Prohibited
161.501
Resource Pamphlet and Resource Guide Provided to Parents of Newborn Children
161.502
Duties of Department, Executive Commissioner, and Commission
161.503
Liability Not Created
161.551
Definitions
161.552
Directory of Services
161.601
Purpose
161.602
Definitions
161.603
Fee Imposed
161.604
Rate of Fee
161.605
Distributor’s Report and Payment of Monthly Fee
161.606
Report to Attorney General Before Offering Non-settling Manufacturer Cigarettes or Cigarette Tobacco Products for Sale or Distribution in This State
161.607
Penalties for Noncompliance
161.608
Appointment of Agent for Service of Process
161.609
Audit or Inspection
161.610
Comptroller Information Sharing
161.611
Revenue Deposited in General Revenue Fund
161.612
Released Claims
161.613
Application of Subchapter
161.614
Rules
161.651
Definitions
161.652
Information Regarding down Syndrome
161.653
Duty of Health Care Provider
161.681
Notice for Children Receiving Chemotherapy or Radiation
161.701
Definitions
161.702
Prohibited Provision of Gender Transitioning or Gender Reassignment Procedures and Treatments to Certain Children
161.703
Exceptions
161.704
Prohibited Use of Public Money
161.00705
Recording Administration of Immunization and Medication for Disasters and Emergencies
161.705
Prohibited State Health Plan Reimbursement
161.00706
First Responder Immunization Information
161.706
Attorney General Enforcement
161.00707
Information and Education for First Responders
161.00708
Access to First Responder Immunization History
161.00735
Release and Receipt of Registry Data in Disaster
161.0815
Nonapplicability
161.0825
Use of Certain Electronically Readable Information
161.0875
Sale of E-cigarette Nicotine Containers
161.0876
Prohibited E-cigarette Products
161.0901
Disciplinary Action Against Cigarette, E-cigarette, and Tobacco Product Retailers
161.0902
E-cigarette Report
161.0903
Use of Certain Revenue
161.01035
Provider Choice System

Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 161.473’s source at texas​.gov