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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to workers' compensation medical benefits for certain |
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prosthetic or orthotic devices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 401.011, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivision (19) and adding Subdivisions (34-a) and (35-a) |
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to read as follows: |
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(19) "Health care" includes all reasonable and |
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necessary medical aid, medical examinations, medical treatments, |
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medical diagnoses, medical evaluations, and medical services. The |
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term does not include vocational rehabilitation. The term |
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includes: |
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(A) medical, surgical, chiropractic, podiatric, |
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optometric, dental, nursing, and physical therapy services |
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provided by or at the direction of a doctor; |
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(B) physical rehabilitation services performed |
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by a licensed occupational therapist provided by or at the |
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direction of a doctor; |
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(C) psychological services prescribed by a |
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doctor; |
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(D) the services of a hospital or other health |
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care facility; |
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(E) a prescription drug, medicine, or other |
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remedy; and |
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(F) a medical or surgical supply, appliance, |
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brace, artificial member, or prosthetic or orthotic device |
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[prosthesis], including the fitting of, change or repair to, or |
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training in the use of the appliance, brace, member, or device |
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[prosthesis]. |
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(34-a) "Orthotic device" means a custom-fitted or |
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custom-fabricated medical device that is applied to a part of the |
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human body to correct a deformity, improve function, or relieve |
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symptoms related to a compensable injury or occupational disease. |
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(35-a) "Prosthetic device" means an artificial device |
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designed to replace, wholly or partly, an arm or leg. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 1305.004, Insurance |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 401.011, Labor Code: |
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(1) "compensable injury"; |
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(2) "doctor"; |
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(3) "employer"; |
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(4) "health care"; |
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(5) "health care facility"; |
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(6) "health care practitioner"; |
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(7) "health care provider"; |
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(8) "injury"; |
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(9) "insurance carrier"; [and] |
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(10) "orthotic device"; |
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(11) "prosthetic device"; and |
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(12) "treating doctor." |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |