Sec. 1044.0605. EMPLOYMENT OF PHYSICIANS. (a) The board may appoint, contract for, or employ physicians as the board considers necessary to provide medical services at a health care facility owned or operated by the district as provided by this section. The board may retain all or part of the professional income generated by a physician employed by the district for those medical services if the board satisfies the requirements of this section.

(b) 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.

(c) The board shall:

(1) appoint a chief medical officer for the district who has been recommended by the medical staff of the district; and

(2) adopt, maintain, and enforce policies to ensure that a physician employed by the district exercises the physician's independent medical judgment in providing care to patients at health care facilities owned or operated by the district.

(d) The policies adopted under this section must include:

(1) policies relating to:

(A) credentialing and privileges;

(B) quality assurance;

(C) utilization review;

(D) peer review and due process; and

(E) medical decision-making; and

(2) the implementation of a complaint mechanism to process and resolve complaints regarding interference or attempted interference with a physician's independent medical judgment.

(e) The policies adopted under this section must be approved by the medical staff of the district. The chief medical officer and the board shall jointly develop and implement a conflict management policy to resolve any conflict between a policy approved by the medical staff under this section and any other district policy.

(f) For all matters relating to the practice of medicine, each physician employed by the district shall ultimately report to the chief medical officer of the district.

(g) The chief medical officer shall notify the Texas Medical Board that the district is employing physicians under this section and that the chief medical officer is the district's designated contact with the Texas Medical Board. The chief medical officer shall immediately report to the Texas Medical Board any action or event that the chief medical officer reasonably and in good faith believes constitutes a compromise of the independent medical judgment of a physician in caring for a patient.

(h) The board shall give equal consideration regarding the issuance of medical staff membership and privileges to physicians employed by the district and physicians not employed by the district.

(i) A physician employed by the district shall retain independent medical judgment in providing care to patients at a health care facility owned or operated by the district and may not be disciplined for reasonably advocating for patient care.

(j) If the district provides professional liability coverage for physicians employed by the district, a physician employed by the district may participate in the selection of the professional liability coverage, has the right to an independent defense at the physician's own cost, and retains the right to consent to the settlement of any action or proceeding brought against the physician.

(k) If a physician employed by the district enters into an employment agreement that includes a covenant not to compete, the agreement is subject to Section 15.50, Business & Commerce Code, and any other applicable law.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 263 (S.B. 1236), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.