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Senate Bill 761 |
Senate Author: West |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
House Sponsor: Truitt |
Senate Bill 761 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize certain hospitals associated with nonprofit fraternal organizations to employ a physician and retain all or part of the professional income generated by the physician for medical services provided at the hospital if the hospital satisfies certain conditions. The bill requires such a hospital to appoint a chief medical officer and designate the chief medical officer as the contact for the Texas Medical Board for certain matters relating to a physician employed by a hospital, and to adopt, maintain, and enforce policies to ensure that a physician exercises independent medical judgment in providing care. The bill requires a conflict management process to be developed and implemented to resolve a conflict between a policy approved by the chief medical officer and the hospital and sets out reporting requirements for a physician employed by the hospital and the chief medical examiner.