This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

	
Amend HB 4730 (Senate committee printing) by adding the 
following appropriately numbered SECTIONS and renumbering any 
subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
	SECTION ____.  (a)  The board may employ physicians or other 
health care providers as the board considers necessary for the 
efficient operation of the district.
	(b)  The board shall adopt and maintain policies to ensure 
that a physician employed under this section exercises independent 
medical judgment when providing care to patients at the hospital 
operated by the district. The policies adopted under this 
subsection must include policies relating to:
		(1)  credentialing;                                                    
		(2)  quality assurance;                                                
		(3)  utilization review;                                               
		(4)  peer review;                                                      
		(5)  medical decision-making; and                                      
		(6)  due process.                                                      
	(c)  A physician employed by the district under this section 
is subject to the same standards and procedures regarding 
credentialing, peer review, quality of care, and privileges as a 
physician not employed by the district.
	(d)  The district shall give equal consideration regarding 
the issuance of credentials and privileges to physicians employed 
by the hospital and physicians not employed by the district.
	(e)  A physician employed by the district shall retain 
independent medical judgment in providing care to patients at the 
hospital operated by the district and may not be penalized for 
reasonably advocating for patient care.
	(f)  This section may not be construed as altering, voiding, 
or prohibiting any relationship between a hospital and a physician, 
including a contract or arrangement with an approved nonprofit 
health corporation that is certified under Section 162.001(b), 
Occupations Code, and that holds a certificate of authority issued 
under Chapter 844, Insurance Code.
	(g)  A contract to employ a physician pursuant to this 
section shall not include a covenant not to compete upon 
termination of the contract.
	(h)  This section may not be construed as authorizing the 
board to supervise or control the practice of medicine, as 
prohibited by Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code.