SRC-CDH H.B. 2673 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2673
By: Janek (Zaffirini)
Health & Human Services
5-12-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The medical committee privilege has existed in Texas since 1963 for the
purpose of encouraging uninhibited discussion of events with the goal of
improving the quality of care provided to patients. Medical committees are
used for conducting quality assurance activities, medical staff
credentialing, and the development of patient care protocols.  The medical
committee facilitates important hospital activities by encouraging open
and honest discussion and disclosure among committee members and persons
reporting to the committee. Ultimately, health care consumers benefit from
the enhanced quality and efficiency of medical care made possible by the
uninhibited medical committee deliberations.  Since the creation of the
privilege, the health care industry has evolved from a model in which
health care was provided by individual hospitals operating alone, to the
development of integrated systems, typically composed of several
affiliated hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term and skilled
nursing facilities.  However, current law speaks of committees of a
"hospital" or "medical organization" only in singular terms.  H.B. 2673
clarifies the statute to extend the medical committee privilege to a joint
committee composed of representatives from various related entities within
a health care system. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2673 provides for the disclosure of health care
information by certain health care providers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.031, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (c), to provide that the term "medical committee" includes a
committee, including a joint committee, of one or more health care systems
if each health care system includes one or more of the entities listed in
Subsection (a).   

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.