Sec. 773.1151. USE OF TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICE BY CERTAIN TRAUMA FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "telemedicine medical service" has the meaning assigned by Section 111.001, Occupations Code.

(b) A health care facility located in a county with a population of less than 30,000 may satisfy a Level IV trauma facility designation requirement relating to physicians through the use of telemedicine medical service in which an on-call physician who has special competence in the care of critically injured patients provides patient assessment, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment or transfers medical data to a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant located at the facility.

(c) In establishing the requirements for designating a facility as a Level IV trauma facility, the executive commissioner may not adopt rules that:

(1) require the physical presence or physical availability of a physician who has special competence in the care of critically injured patients; or

(2) prohibit the use of telemedicine medical service that meets the requirements of Subsection (b).

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 254 (H.B. 871), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.