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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Parker County Hospital District to |
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employ physicians. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1085, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 1085.0585 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1085.0585. EMPLOYMENT OF PHYSICIANS. (a) The board |
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may employ physicians as the board considers necessary for the |
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efficient operation of the district. |
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(b) The board shall adopt and maintain policies to ensure |
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that a physician employed under this section exercises independent |
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medical judgment when providing care to patients at a district |
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facility. The policies adopted under this subsection must include |
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policies relating to: |
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(1) credentialing; |
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(2) quality assurance; |
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(3) utilization review; |
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(4) peer review; |
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(5) medical decision-making; and |
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(6) due process. |
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(c) A physician employed by the district under this section |
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is subject to the same standards and procedures regarding |
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credentialing, peer review, quality of care, and privileges as a |
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physician not employed by the district. |
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(d) The district shall give equal consideration regarding |
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the issuance of credentials and privileges to physicians employed |
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by the district and physicians not employed by the district. |
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(e) A physician employed by the district shall retain |
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independent medical judgment in providing care to patients at a |
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facility operated by the district and may not be penalized for |
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reasonably advocating for patient care. |
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(f) The board shall appoint a chief medical officer for the |
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district who must be a physician. For all matters relating to the |
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practice of medicine, each physician employed by the district shall |
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ultimately report to the chief medical officer of the district. The |
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chief medical officer shall notify the Texas Medical Board that the |
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district is employing physicians under this section and that the |
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chief medical officer is the district's designated contact with the |
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Texas Medical Board. The chief medical officer shall immediately |
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report to the Texas Medical Board any action or event that the chief |
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medical officer reasonably and in good faith believes constitutes a |
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compromise of the independent medical judgment of a physician in |
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caring for a patient. |
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(g) This section may not be construed as altering, voiding, |
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or prohibiting any relationship between a district and a physician, |
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including a contract or arrangement with an approved nonprofit |
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health corporation that is certified under Section 162.001(b), |
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Occupations Code, and that holds a certificate of authority issued |
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under Chapter 844, Insurance Code. |
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(h) A contract to employ a physician under this section may |
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not include a covenant not to compete on termination of the |
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contract. |
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(i) This section may not be construed to authorize the board |
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to supervise or control the practice of medicine, as prohibited by |
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Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |