Bill Text: TX HB4663 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the Parker County Hospital District to employ physicians.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-07 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB4663 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB4663-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 4663 |
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relating to the authority of the Parker County Hospital District to | ||
employ physicians. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1085, Special District | ||
Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 1085.0585 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 1085.0585. EMPLOYMENT OF PHYSICIANS. (a) The board | ||
may employ physicians as the board considers necessary for the | ||
efficient operation of the district. | ||
(b) The board shall adopt and maintain policies to ensure | ||
that a physician employed under this section exercises independent | ||
medical judgment when providing care to patients at a district | ||
facility. The policies adopted under this subsection must include | ||
policies relating to: | ||
(1) credentialing; | ||
(2) quality assurance; | ||
(3) utilization review; | ||
(4) peer review; | ||
(5) medical decision-making; and | ||
(6) due process. | ||
(c) A physician employed by the district under this section | ||
is subject to the same standards and procedures regarding | ||
credentialing, peer review, quality of care, and privileges as a | ||
physician not employed by the district. | ||
(d) The district shall give equal consideration regarding | ||
the issuance of credentials and privileges to physicians employed | ||
by the district and physicians not employed by the district. | ||
(e) A physician employed by the district shall retain | ||
independent medical judgment in providing care to patients at a | ||
facility operated by the district and may not be penalized for | ||
reasonably advocating for patient care. | ||
(f) The board shall appoint a chief medical officer for the | ||
district who must be a physician. For all matters relating to the | ||
practice of medicine, each physician employed by the district shall | ||
ultimately report to the chief medical officer of the district. The | ||
chief medical officer shall notify the Texas Medical Board that the | ||
district is employing physicians under this section and that the | ||
chief medical officer is the district's designated contact with the | ||
Texas Medical Board. The chief medical officer shall immediately | ||
report to the Texas Medical Board any action or event that the chief | ||
medical officer reasonably and in good faith believes constitutes a | ||
compromise of the independent medical judgment of a physician in | ||
caring for a patient. | ||
(g) This section may not be construed as altering, voiding, | ||
or prohibiting any relationship between a district and a physician, | ||
including a contract or arrangement with an approved nonprofit | ||
health corporation that is certified under Section 162.001(b), | ||
Occupations Code, and that holds a certificate of authority issued | ||
under Chapter 844, Insurance Code. | ||
(h) A contract to employ a physician under this section may | ||
not include a covenant not to compete on termination of the | ||
contract. | ||
(i) This section may not be construed to authorize the board | ||
to supervise or control the practice of medicine, as prohibited by | ||
Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 4663 was passed by the House on May 3, | ||
2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 4663 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
20, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |