1-1 By: Smithee, Uresti, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 606 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 5, 2001; 1-3 April 9, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Business and Commerce; May 8, 2001, reported adversely, with 1-5 favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 1-6 0; May 8, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 606 By: Fraser 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to prohibiting certain health benefit plans from requiring 1-11 the use of hospitalists by participating physicians. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Article 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, as added by 1-14 Chapter 1024, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, 1-15 is amended by adding Section 3B to read as follows: 1-16 Sec. 3B. USE OF HOSPITALIST. (a) In this section, 1-17 "hospitalist" means a physician who: 1-18 (1) serves as physician of record at a hospital for a 1-19 hospitalized patient of another physician; and 1-20 (2) returns the care of the patient to that other 1-21 physician at the end of the patient's hospitalization. 1-22 (b) A preferred provider contract between an insurer and a 1-23 physician may not require the physician to use a hospitalist for a 1-24 hospitalized patient. 1-25 SECTION 2. The Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act 1-26 (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) is amended by adding 1-27 Section 18D to read as follows: 1-28 Sec. 18D. USE OF HOSPITALIST. (a) In this section, 1-29 "hospitalist" means a physician who: 1-30 (1) serves as physician of record at a hospital for a 1-31 hospitalized patient of another physician; and 1-32 (2) returns the care of the patient to that other 1-33 physician at the end of the patient's hospitalization. 1-34 (b) A contract between a health maintenance organization and 1-35 a physician may not require the physician to use a hospitalist for 1-36 a hospitalized patient. 1-37 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and 1-38 applies only to a contract between an insurer or health maintenance 1-39 organization and a physician that is entered into on or after the 1-40 effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the 1-41 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect 1-42 immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is 1-43 continued in effect for that purpose. 1-44 * * * * *