84R25062 MAW-D
 
  By: Zedler H.B. No. 179
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 179:
 
  By:  Crownover C.S.H.B. No. 179
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the investigation and resolution of complaints filed
  against physicians.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 154.053(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board shall provide notice to [notify] a physician
  who is the subject of a complaint filed with the board [that a
  complaint has been filed and shall notify the physician of the
  nature of the complaint] unless the notice would jeopardize an
  investigation. The notice must include:
               (1)  the specific allegations made in the complaint;
  and
               (2)  a copy of the complaint that has been redacted to
  remove the name of the complainant.
         SECTION 2.  Section 154.0561, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  Each physician on an expert physician panel authorized
  under Section 154.056(e) who is reviewing a complaint must practice
  in the same specialty as the physician who is the subject of the
  complaint.
         SECTION 3.  Section 164.003(f), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  The notice required by Subsection (b)(2) must be
  accompanied by a written statement of the specific factual [nature
  of the] allegations, the specific statute, rule, or standard of
  care alleged to be violated, [and] the information the board
  intends to use at the meeting, and the credentials of any expert the
  board intends to rely on at the meeting.  If the board does not
  provide the statement or information at that time, the license
  holder may use that failure as grounds for rescheduling the
  informal meeting.  If the complaint includes an allegation that the
  license holder has violated the standard of care, the notice must
  include a copy of the report by the expert physician reviewer and a
  statement explaining exactly how the standard of care was violated.  
  The license holder must provide to the board the license holder's
  rebuttal at least 15 business days before the date of the meeting in
  order for the information to be considered at the meeting.
         SECTION 4.  Section 164.0032, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (f) and (g) and adding Subsection (g-1) to
  read as follows:
         (f)  The panel shall recommend the dismissal of the complaint
  or allegations or, if the panel determines that the affected
  physician has violated a statute, [or] board rule, or standard of
  care, the panel may recommend board action and terms for an informal
  settlement of the case.
         (g)  The panel's recommendations under Subsection (f) must
  be made in a written order and presented to the affected physician
  and the physician's authorized representative.  The order must
  state the specific basis for the order, including the specific
  statute, board rule, or standard of care that each act violates.
         (g-1)  The physician may accept the proposed settlement
  within the time established by the panel at the informal meeting.  
  If the physician rejects the proposed settlement or does not act
  within the required time, the board may proceed with the filing of a
  formal complaint with the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
         SECTION 5.  Section 164.005(f), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  A formal complaint must allege with reasonable
  certainty each specific act relied on by the board to constitute a
  violation of a specific statute, [or] rule, or standard of care.
  The formal complaint must be specific enough to:
               (1)  enable a person of common understanding to know
  what is meant by the formal complaint; and
               (2)  give the person who is the subject of the formal
  complaint notice of each particular act alleged to be a violation of
  a specific statute, [or] rule, or standard of care.
         SECTION 6.  Sections 154.053, 154.0561, and 164.005,
  Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a complaint
  filed on or after the effective date of this Act.  A complaint filed
  before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  complaint was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 7.  Sections 164.003 and 164.0032, Occupations Code,
  as amended by this Act, apply only to an informal proceeding
  concerning a complaint filed on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An informal proceeding concerning a complaint filed before
  that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the complaint
  was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.