BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1924

79R10794 KEG-D                                                                                        By: Chavez (Shapleigh)

                                                                                                         International Relations & Trade

                                                                                                                                              5/3/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Nonprofit health corporations in Texas must be certified by the State Board of Medical Examiners to contract with or employ physicians and Texas non-profit corporations organized and operated as federally qualified health centers are eligible for such certification.  These centers provide necessary health care services in impoverished areas along the Texas-Mexico border but questions exist regarding their ability to employ physicians because of their arrangement with public entity hospitals.

 

H.B. 1924 clarifies the ability of a federally qualified health center administered by a public entity hospital district and located in a county that borders Mexico to employ physicians.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 162.001(c), Occupations Code, to require the State Board of Medical Examiners (board) to certify a health organization to contract with or employ physicians licensed by the board if the organization is a hospital district recognized by a federal agency as a public entity for the purposes of receiving a grant related to a community or federally qualified health center described by this section and located in county that borders the United Mexican States.    

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.