SRC-SEW S.B. 516 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 516
77R2495 MCK-DBy: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
2/8/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, studies show that physicians in rural areas are unable to leave
their practices because of the lack of other physicians to provide
coverage.  Studies also show that rural physicians work longer hours, see
more patients, treat a higher percentage of indigent care patients, and
receive less compensation than their urban colleagues.  As proposed, S.B.
516 requires the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to instigate a
state-supported rural physician relief program to help rural areas retain
physicians. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter H, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER H.  RURAL PHYSICIAN RELIEF PROGRAM  

 Sec. 106.251.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "physician," "relief services," and
"rural." 

Sec. 106.252.  RURAL PHYSICIAN RELIEF PROGRAM.  Requires the Center for
Rural Health Initiatives (center) to create a program to provide affordable
relief services to rural physicians practicing in the fields of general
family medicine, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics to
facilitate the ability of those physicians to take time away from their
practices. 

Sec. 106.253.  FEES.  Requires the center to charge a fee for rural
physicians to participate in the program and requires those fees to be
deposited in a special account in the general revenue fund authorized to be
appropriated only to the center for administration of this subchapter. 

Sec. 106.254.  FUNDING.  Authorizes the center to solicit and accept gifts,
grants, donations, and contributions to support the program. 

Sec. 106.255.  RELIEF PHYSICIAN'S EXPENSES.  Requires the center to pay a
physician providing relief under the program using fees collected by the
center. 

Sec. 106.256.  PRIORITY ASSIGNMENT OF RELIEF PHYSICIANS.  Requires the
center to assign physicians to provide relief to a rural area in accordance
with certain priorities. Requires the center to consider certain factors in
determining where to assign relief physicians. Authorizes residency program
directors, at the request of the center, to assist the center in
coordinating the assignment of relief physicians. 

Sec. 106.257.  RELIEF PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT.  Requires the center to
actively  recruit physicians to participate in the program as relief
physicians.  Requires the center to concentrate on recruiting physicians
who are:  involved in accredited residency programs in certain fields,
registered on the center's locum tenens registry, employed at a medical
school, and working for private locum tenens groups. 

 
Sec. 106.258.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  Provides that the rural physician
relief advisory committee is composed of certain stated members appointed
by the center's executive committee.  Requires the advisory committee to
assist the center in administering the program. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.