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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to conducting certain medical examinations using |
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telemedicine under the workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 408.123, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) A medical examination conducted to certify maximum |
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medical improvement or assign an impairment rating may be performed |
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using telehealth services or telemedicine medical services, as |
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defined by Section 111.001, Occupations Code. A health care |
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professional must be physically present in the room in which the |
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employee is located to assist the certifying doctor in conducting |
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the examination and administering any necessary testing. For |
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purposes of this subsection, "health care professional" means an |
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individual licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to |
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administer health care, for profit or otherwise, in the ordinary |
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course of business or professional practice. |
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SECTION 2. Section 408.123(i), Labor Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a medical examination to certify an employee's |
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maximum medical improvement or assign an employee's impairment |
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rating conducted on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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medical examination conducted before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect on the date the examination was |
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conducted, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |