By Dukes H.B. No. 1577 77R5393 KSD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to medical dispute resolution in certain workers' 1-3 compensation cases. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 413.031, Labor Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subsection (e) to read as follows: 1-7 (e) In a review of a medical service under this section, a 1-8 doctor may not offer an opinion regarding whether the medical 1-9 service is reasonable and necessary unless the doctor has examined 1-10 the injured employee within the 12 months preceding the date of 1-11 offering the opinion. 1-12 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and 1-13 applies only to a review of a medical service under Section 1-14 413.031, Labor Code, provided on or after that date. A review 1-15 provided before the effective date of this Act is governed by the 1-16 law in effect on the date that the review is provided, and the 1-17 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.