By Giddings H.B. No. 1778 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment of a medical advisor at the Texas 1-3 Worker's Compensation Commission. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 413, Labor Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 413.0515 to read as follows: 1-7 Section 413.0515. MEDICAL ADVISOR. (a) The commission 1-8 shall employ a medical advisor to: 1-9 (1) develop, maintain, and review medical policies and 1-10 fee guidelines, including medical policies regarding the 1-11 determination of impairment ratings; and 1-12 (2) review compliance with those medical policies and 1-13 fee guidelines. 1-14 (b) The medical advisor may establish a panel of physicians 1-15 to assist the medical advisor in performing any review under 1-16 Subsection (a). 1-17 (c) The medical advisor and a physician serving on a panel 1-18 under Subsection (b) are immune from liability for any act in the 1-19 person's official capacity that is performed in good faith. 1-20 (d) The medical advisor must be a licensed individual who has 1-21 extensive educational and clinical experience and training in 2-1 health care including the following: 2-2 (a) diagnosis and treatment; 2-3 (b) surgical intervention; 2-4 (c) rehabilitation; and 2-5 (d) counseling of patients who have suffered an 2-6 injury or disease. 2-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.