SENATE
                          NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING


COMMITTEE: Workers' Compensation, Select Interim

TIME & DATE:  1:00PM Or upon adjournment
             Thursday, April 29, 2004

PLACE: Capitol Extension E1.028

CHAIR: Senator Todd Staples

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The Senate Select Committee on Workers' Compensation will meet on Thursday,
April 29, 2004 at 1 p.m. or upon adjournment in E1.028.  The Committee will
consider the following:

  I. Call to Order
 II. Roll Call
III. Opening Remarks
 IV. Adoption of March 25, 2004 hearing minutes
  V. Invited Testimony on the following charges:

2.  Study the potential impact of networks on the workers'compensation
health care delivery system.  Include in the study:

    a.  Quality of care;
    b.  Network adequacy and access to care;
    c.  Disclosure of information to patients, complaint procedures, appeal
        rights and overall patient satisfaction;
    d.  Costs of care;
    e.  Provider credentialing, selection and dispute resolution;
    f.  Financial risk to providers, employers and carriers;
    g.  Effects of networks on the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission;
        and
    h.  Quality monitoring systems such as independent report cards.

3.  Study the impact of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission's 2002
Medical Fee Guideline on access to quality medical care for injured workers
and medical costs, including recommendations on whether the legislature
should statutorily prescribe a methodology for calculating the workers'
compensation conversion factor.

 VI. Other Business
VII. Adjourn/Recess


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