By Brady H.B. No. 3141
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to inclusion of a psychologist on the medical advisory
1-3 committee appointed by the Texas Workers Compensation Commission
1-4 and the treatment of mental trauma injuries by a psychologist under
1-5 the Texas workers compensation system; and declaring an emergency.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Section 401.011, Subdivision (42) Labor Code, is
1-8 amended to read as follows:
1-9 (42) "Treating doctor" means the doctor who is
1-10 primarily responsible for the employee's health care for an injury
1-11 or when requested by an injured worker, insurance carrier, or other
1-12 health care provider, and subject to approval by the insurance
1-13 carrier, a licensed psychologist may serve as the treating doctor
1-14 in cases where the only condition receiving health care under this
1-15 subtitle is a compensable mental trauma injury.
1-16 SECTION 2. Section 413.005, Subsection (b), Labor Code, is
1-17 amended to read as follows:
1-18 (b) The medical advisory committee is composed of members
1-19 appointed by the commission as follows:
1-20 (1) a representative of a public health care facility;
1-21 (2) a representative of a private health care
1-22 facility;
1-23 (3) a doctor of medicine;
2-1 (4) a doctor of osteopathic medicine;
2-2 (5) a chiropractor;
2-3 (6) a dentist;
2-4 (7) a physical therapist;
2-5 (8) a pharmacist;
2-6 (9) a podiatrist;
2-7 (10) a psychologist;
2-8 <(10)> (11) an occupational therapist;
2-9 <(11)> (12) a medical equipment supplier;
2-10 <(12)> (13) a registered nurse;
2-11 <(13)> (14) a representative of employers;
2-12 <(14)> (15) a representative of employees; and
2-13 <(15)> (16) two representatives of the general public.
2-14 (c) Each member of the medical advisory committee must be
2-15 knowledgeable and qualified regarding work-related injuries and
2-16 diseases.
2-17 (d) The commission shall designate the presiding officer of
2-18 the medical advisory committee.
2-19 (e) The medical advisory committee shall meet at the call of
2-20 its presiding officer or at the call of a majority of the
2-21 committee.
2-22 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-23 SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. The importance of this
2-24 legislation and the crowded condition of the calendars in both
2-25 houses create an emergency and an imperative public necessity that
3-1 the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.