BILL ANALYSIS
By: Madla
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Maverick County is and has been, for many years, designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area and Medically Underserved. Historically, it has been extremely difficult to recruit qualified physicians and medical professionals to Maverick County and the situation has not improved. The community has a disproportionate population of uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, and Medicare residents.
As proposed, S.B. 1027 allows the Maverick County Hospital District (district) to hire physicians to alleviate the burden of operating the business aspect of the practice, allowing the physician to fully concentrate on delivering healthcare. The district would own the medical practice and operate and control the day-to-day business. The employed physician would control the practice of medicine for which he/she was trained.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 11, Chapter 172, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, by adding Subsection (k-1), as follows:
(k-1) Authorizes the board of directors of the Maverick County Hospital District (board) to employ physicians, dentists, or other health care providers as the board considers necessary for the efficient operation of the district. Provides that this subsection does not authorize the board to supervise or control the practice of medicine or permit the unauthorized practice of medicine, as prohibited by Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Effective date
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.