Texas Insurance Code 845.003 – Rural Area Designation
Terms Used In Texas Insurance Code 845.003
- Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005
In determining whether to designate an area as a rural area under this chapter, the commissioner shall consider any area that is delineated as an urbanized area by the United States Bureau of the Census and:
(1) is contiguous with and not more than 10 miles away from a rural area described by Section 845.002(9)(A) or (B);
(2) is sparsely populated, compared to areas within a 10-mile radius that are delineated as urbanized areas by the United States Bureau of the Census;
(3) has not increased in population in any single calendar year in the seven years before the commissioner makes the designation; and
(4) in which emergency or primary care services:
(A) are limited or unavailable in accordance with network access standards imposed by the commissioner; and
(B) would be made materially more accessible by allowing access to care in a contiguous area that is otherwise eligible to participate in the system.