By Edwards H.B. No. 2287 77R6374 KLA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 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. SHARING OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE REIMBURSEMENTS. 1-9 (a) In this section, "attending physician" means a physician who 1-10 is selected by or assigned to a patient and has primary 1-11 responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient. 1-12 (b) The commission by rule shall prescribe a method by which 1-13 a hospital that receives reimbursement for services provided to a 1-14 patient under the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, 1-15 Human Resources Code, may pay a portion of that reimbursement to 1-16 the patient's attending physician. 1-17 SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a 1-18 state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a 1-19 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, 1-20 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or 1-21 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the 1-22 waiver or authorization is granted. 1-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.