By Uresti H.B. No. 3111 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 use of Hospitalists. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 18A, Texas Health Maintenance 1-5 Organization Act (Article 20A.18A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) 1-6 is amended to add a new subsection (j) to read as follows: 1-7 (j) For purposes of this subsection, "Hospitalist" means a 1-8 physician who becomes a physician of record at a hospital for a 1-9 patient of a participating physician and who may return the care of 1-10 the patient to that physician at the end of the hospitalization. A 1-11 contract between a health maintenance organization and a physician 1-12 shall not require the mandatory use of a hospitalist. 1-13 SECTION 2. Section 3, Art. 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, is 1-14 amended to add a new subsection (n) to read as follows: 1-15 (n) For purposes of this subsection, "Hospitalist" means a 1-16 physician who becomes a physician of record at a hospital for a 1-17 patient of a participating physician and who may return the care of 1-18 the patient to that physician at the end of the hospitalization. 1-19 Any insurer which markets or sponsors a preferred provider benefit 1-20 plan in its contracts with a physician shall not require the 1-21 mandatory use of a hospitalist. 2-1 SECTION 3. This Act becomes effective September 1, 1999. 2-2 SECTION 4. The importance of the legislation and the crowded 2-3 condition of the calendars in both houses create an emergency and 2-4 an imperative public necessity that the constitutional rule 2-5 requiring bills to be read on three several days in each house be 2-6 suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.