1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of a hospital to share with certain
 1-3     attending physicians reimbursements for services provided to
 1-4     patients under the medical assistance program.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 531.055 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 531.055.  USE OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE REIMBURSEMENTS. The
 1-9     commission by rule shall provide a method by which a hospital
1-10     designated as a disproportionate share hospital may contract with
1-11     physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients based
1-12     on the hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria.
1-13           SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
1-14     state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
1-15     federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
1-16     the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
1-17     authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
1-18     waiver or authorization is granted.
1-19           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2287 was passed by the House on May
         5, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2287 was passed by the Senate on May
         22, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor