OCCUPATIONS CODE
CHAPTER 160. REPORT AND CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS
SUBCHAPTER A. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MEDICAL PEER REVIEW
§ 160.001. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL LAW. The Health Care
Quality Improvement Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. Section 11101 et seq.)
applies to a professional review action or medical peer review
conducted by a professional review body or medical peer review
committee in this state on or after September 1, 1987.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.002. REPORT OF MEDICAL PEER REVIEW. (a) A
medical peer review committee or health care entity shall report in
writing to the board the results and circumstances of a medical peer
review that:
(1) adversely affects the clinical privileges of a
physician for a period longer than 30 days;
(2) accepts a physician's surrender of clinical
privileges either:
(A) while the physician is under an investigation
by the medical peer review committee relating to possible
incompetence or improper professional conduct; or
(B) in return for not conducting an investigation
or proceeding relating to possible incompetence or improper
professional conduct; or
(3) adversely affects the membership of a physician in
a professional society or association, if the medical peer review
is conducted by that society or association.
(b) The duty to report under this section may not be
nullified through contract.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.003. REPORT BY CERTAIN PRACTITIONERS. (a) This
section applies to:
(1) a medical peer review committee in this state;
(2) a physician licensed in this state or otherwise
lawfully practicing medicine in this state;
(3) a physician engaged in graduate medical education
or training;
(4) a medical student;
(5) a physician assistant or acupuncturist licensed in
this state or otherwise lawfully practicing in this state; and
(6) a physician assistant student or acupuncturist
student.
(b) A person or committee subject to this section shall
report relevant information to the board relating to the acts of a
physician in this state if, in the opinion of the person or
committee, that physician poses a continuing threat to the public
welfare through the practice of medicine.
(c) The duty to report under this section may not be
nullified through contract.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.004. REPORT REGARDING CERTAIN IMPAIRED
PHYSICIANS. (a) This section applies to:
(1) a committee of a professional medical society or
association operating under written bylaws approved by the
policymaking body or governing board of the society or association
and composed primarily of physicians;
(2) the staff of that committee; or
(3) a district or local intervenor participating in a
program established to aid physicians whose ability to practice
medicine is impaired, or reasonably believed to be impaired, by
drug or alcohol abuse or mental or physical illness.
(b) A person or committee subject to this section:
(1) may report to the board or to a health care entity
in which an affected physician has clinical privileges the name of
the impaired physician together with pertinent information
relating to that impairment; and
(2) shall report to the board and any known health care
entity in which the physician has clinical privileges if the person
or committee determines that, through the practice of medicine, the
physician poses a continuing threat to the public welfare.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by this subtitle, each
proceeding and record of a person described by Subsection (a) is
confidential, and any communication made to the person or committee
is privileged from disclosure in the manner provided under this
subchapter for information submitted by a medical peer review
committee. This confidentiality and privilege from disclosure
applies to all information developed under this section, including
information developed before September 1, 1991.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.005. REPORT CONFIDENTIAL; COMMUNICATION NOT
PRIVILEGED. (a) A report made under this subchapter is
confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code.
(b) In a proceeding brought under this chapter or Chapter
158, 159, or 162, evidence may not be excluded on the ground that it
consists of a privileged communication unless it is a communication
between attorney and client.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.006. BOARD CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) A record,
report, or other information received and maintained by the board
under this subchapter or Subchapter B, including any material
received or developed by the board during an investigation or
hearing and the identity of, and reports made by, a physician
performing or supervising compliance monitoring for the board, is
confidential. The board may disclose this information only:
(1) in a disciplinary hearing before the board or in a
subsequent trial or appeal of a board action or order;
(2) to the physician licensing or disciplinary
authority of another jurisdiction, to a local, state, or national
professional medical society or association, or to a medical peer
review committee located inside or outside this state that is
concerned with granting, limiting, or denying a physician hospital
privileges;
(3) under a court order;
(4) to qualified personnel for bona fide research or
educational purposes, if personally identifiable information
relating to any physician or other individual is first deleted; or
(5) to the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission as
provided by Section 413.0514, Labor Code.
(b) Any known hospital suspension of a physician for a term
of 30 days or longer relating to the physician's competence and a
disciplinary order of the board against a physician are not
confidential.
(c) A record or report disclosed by the board under this
subchapter and a record or report received, maintained, or
developed by the board, a medical peer review committee, a member of
the committee, or a health care entity are not available for
discovery or court subpoena and may not be introduced into evidence
in any action for damages, including a medical professional
liability action that arises out of the provision of or failure to
provide a medical or health care service.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1201, § 1, eff. June 15, 2001; Acts
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 963, § 5, eff. June 20, 2003.
§ 160.007. CONFIDENTIALITY RELATING TO MEDICAL PEER
REVIEW COMMITTEE. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this
subtitle, each proceeding or record of a medical peer review
committee is confidential, and any communication made to a medical
peer review committee is privileged.
(b) If a judge makes a preliminary finding that a proceeding
or record of a medical peer review committee or a communication made
to the committee is relevant to an anticompetitive action, or to a
civil rights proceeding brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, the
proceeding, record, or communication is not confidential to the
extent it is considered relevant.
(c) A record or proceeding of a medical peer review
committee or a written or oral communication made to the committee
may be disclosed to:
(1) another medical peer review committee;
(2) an appropriate state or federal agency;
(3) a national accreditation body;
(4) the board; or
(5) the state board of registration or licensing of
physicians of another state.
(d) If a medical peer review committee takes action that
could result in censure, suspension, restriction, limitation,
revocation, or denial of membership or privileges in a health care
entity, the affected physician shall be provided a written copy of
the recommendation of the medical peer review committee and a copy
of the final decision, including a statement of the basis for the
decision. Disclosure to the affected physician of confidential
peer review committee information relevant to the matter under
review does not constitute waiver of the confidentiality
requirements established under this subtitle.
(e) Unless disclosure is required or authorized by law, a
record or determination of or a communication to a medical peer
review committee is not subject to subpoena or discovery and is not
admissible as evidence in any civil judicial or administrative
proceeding without waiver of the privilege of confidentiality
executed in writing by the committee. The evidentiary privileges
created by this subtitle may be invoked by a person or organization
in a civil judicial or administrative proceeding unless the person
or organization secures a waiver of the privilege executed in
writing by the chair, vice chair, or secretary of the affected
medical peer review committee.
(f) If, under Sections 160.008(a) and (b), a person
participating in peer review, a medical peer review committee, or a
health care entity named as a defendant in a civil action filed as a
result of participation in peer review may use otherwise
confidential information in the defendant's own defense, a
plaintiff in the proceeding may disclose a record or determination
of or a communication to a medical peer review committee in rebuttal
to information supplied by the defendant.
(g) A person seeking access to privileged information must
plead and prove waiver of the privilege. A member, employee, or
agent of a medical peer review committee who provides access to an
otherwise privileged communication or record in cooperation with a
law enforcement authority in a criminal investigation is not
considered to have waived any privilege established under this
subtitle.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.008. USE OF CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION. (a) This section applies to a person participating
in peer review, a medical peer review committee, or a health care
entity named as a defendant in a civil action filed as a result of
participation in peer review.
(b) A defendant subject to this section may use otherwise
confidential information obtained for legitimate internal business
and professional purposes, including use in the defendant's own
defense. Use of confidential information under this subsection
does not constitute a waiver of the confidential and privileged
nature of medical peer review committee proceedings.
(c) A defendant subject to this section may file a
counterclaim in a pending action or may prove a cause of action in a
subsequent action to recover defense costs, including court costs,
attorney's fees, and damages incurred as a result of the civil
action, if the plaintiff's original action is determined to be
frivolous or brought in bad faith.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.009. COMPLIANCE WITH SUBPOENA. (a) The
governing body and medical staff of each health care entity and any
other person shall comply with a subpoena for documents or
information issued by the board under Section 153.007 or 204.308.
The disclosure of documents or information under such a subpoena
does not constitute a waiver of the privilege associated with
medical peer review committee proceedings.
(b) Failure to comply with a subpoena under Subsection (a)
constitutes grounds for disciplinary action against the person or
entity by the appropriate licensing board.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.010. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) The
following are immune from civil liability:
(1) a person who, in good faith, reports or furnishes
information to a medical peer review committee or the board;
(2) a member, employee, or agent of the board, a
medical peer review committee, or a medical organization committee,
or a medical organization district or local intervenor, who takes
an action or makes a recommendation within the scope of the
functions of the board, committee, or intervenor program, if that
member, employee, agent, or intervenor acts without malice and in
the reasonable belief that the action or recommendation is
warranted by the facts known to that person; and
(3) a member or employee of the board or any person who
assists the board in carrying out its duties or functions provided
by law.
(b) A cause of action does not accrue against a member,
agent, or employee of a medical peer review committee or against a
health care entity from any act, statement, determination or
recommendation made, or act reported, without malice, in the course
of medical peer review.
(c) A person, medical peer review committee, or health care
entity that, without malice, participates in medical peer review or
furnishes records, information, or assistance to a medical peer
review committee or the board is immune from any civil liability
arising from that act.
(d) A person or health care entity required to report to the
board may not be found liable in a civil action for failure to
report to the board unless the failure was committed knowingly or
wilfully, except that the appropriate state licensing body may take
action against a licensed person or entity for not reporting as
required under this subtitle.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.011. NOT STATE ACTION. The reporting or
assistance provided for in this subchapter does not constitute
state action on the reporting or assisting medical peer review
committee or its parent organization.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.012. DISCIPLINE OR DISCRIMINATION
PROHIBITED. (a) A person may not suspend, terminate, or
otherwise discipline or discriminate against a person who reports
to the board under this subtitle.
(b) A person has a cause of action against a health care
entity, or an owner or employee of a health care entity, that
suspends or terminates the employment of the person or otherwise
disciplines or discriminates against the person for reporting to
the board under Section 160.002, 160.003, or 160.004. The person
may recover:
(1) the greater of:
(A) actual damages, including damages for mental
anguish regardless of whether other injury is shown; or
(B) $1,000;
(2) exemplary damages;
(3) court costs; and
(4) reasonable attorney's fees.
(c) In addition to amounts recovered under Subsection (b), a
person whose employment is suspended or terminated in violation of
this section is entitled to:
(1) either:
(A) reinstatement in the person's former
position; or
(B) severance pay in an amount equal to three
months of the person's most current salary; and
(2) compensation for wages lost during the period of
suspension or termination.
(d) A person who brings an action under this section has the
burden of proof. It is a rebuttable presumption that the person's
employment was suspended or terminated for reporting an act that
imperils the welfare of a patient if:
(1) the person is suspended or terminated not later
than the 90th day after the date of making a report in good faith;
and
(2) the board or a court determines that the reported
case made the subject of the cause of action was a case in which the
person was required to report under Section 160.002, 160.003, or
160.004.
(e) An action under this section may be brought in the
district court of the county in which:
(1) the plaintiff resides;
(2) the plaintiff was employed by the defendant; or
(3) the defendant conducts business.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.013. EXPUNGEMENT OF REPORT MADE IN BAD FAITH. If
a court makes a final determination that a report or complaint made
to the board was made in bad faith, the complaint shall be expunged
from the physician's or applicant's individual historical record.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.014. ACTION BY HEALTH CARE ENTITY NOT
PRECLUDED. The filing of a report with the board under this
subchapter, or an investigation or disposition by the board, does
not in itself preclude any action by a health care entity to
suspend, restrict, or revoke the privileges or membership of the
physician.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.015. IMMUNITY OF HOSPITAL DISTRICT OR HOSPITAL
AUTHORITY. This subchapter does not impose liability or waive
immunity for a hospital district or hospital authority that has
common law, statutory, or other immunity.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 14.031(a), eff. Sept.
1, 2001.
SUBCHAPTER B. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO INSURERS
§ 160.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of
insurance.
(2) "Insurer" means an insurer or other entity that
provides medical professional liability insurance covering a
physician in this state.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.052. REPORT FROM INSURER OR PHYSICIAN. (a) Each
insurer shall submit to the board the report or other information
described by Section 160.053 at the time prescribed. The insurer
shall provide the report or information with respect to:
(1) a complaint filed against an insured in a court, if
the complaint seeks damages relating to the insured's conduct in
providing or failing to provide a medical or health care service;
and
(2) settlement of a claim without the filing of a
lawsuit or settlement of a lawsuit made on behalf of the insured
involving damages relating to the insured's conduct in providing or
failing to provide a medical or health care service.
(b) A physician practicing medicine in this state shall
report the information required under Section 160.053 if the
physician:
(1) does not carry or is not covered by medical
professional liability insurance; or
(2) is insured by a nonadmitted carrier or other
entity providing medical liability insurance that is not reporting
under this subchapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 202, § 23, eff. June 10, 2003.
§ 160.053. CONTENTS OF REPORT; ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date an
insurer receives from an insured a complaint filed in a lawsuit, a
settlement of a claim without the filing of a lawsuit, or a
settlement of a lawsuit against the insured, the insurer shall
furnish to the board:
(1) the name of the insured and the insured's Texas
medical license number;
(2) the policy number;
(3) a copy of the complaint or settlement; and
(4) a copy of any expert report filed under Section
13.01, Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act of Texas
(Article 4590i, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
(b) The board, in consultation with the commissioner, shall
adopt rules for reporting additional information as the board
requires. In adopting the rules, the board shall consider other
claim reports required under state and federal statutes in
determining the information to be reported, form of the report, and
frequency of reporting. The rules adopted by the board under this
subsection must require that the following additional information
be reported:
(1) the date of a judgment, dismissal, or settlement;
(2) whether an appeal has been taken and by which
party; and
(3) the amount of the settlement or judgment against
the insured.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 202, § 24, eff. June 10, 2003.
§ 160.054. REPORT NOT EVIDENCE. In the trial of an
action against a physician based on the physician's conduct in
providing or failing to provide a medical or health care service, a
report or other information submitted to the board under this
subchapter and the fact that the report or information has been
submitted to the board may not be offered in evidence or used in any
manner.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
§ 160.055. SANCTIONS FOR FAILURE TO REPORT. The
commissioner may impose sanctions authorized by Chapter 82,
Insurance Code, on an insurer who fails to report information as
required by this subchapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 10A.543, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
§ 160.056. CIVIL LIABILITY. A person or entity is not
liable for any action taken by the person or entity under this
subchapter, and a cause of action does not arise against that person
or entity, if the person or entity is:
(1) an insurer reporting under this subchapter;
(2) an agent or employee of that insurer; or
(3) a member, employee, or representative of the
board.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
SUBCHAPTER C. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN CONVICTIONS OR
ADJUDICATIONS
§ 160.101. REPORT BY COURT TO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. (a) This section applies to a person known to be a
physician who is licensed or otherwise lawfully practicing in this
state or applying to be licensed and who is convicted of or placed
on deferred adjudication for:
(1) a felony;
(2) a Class A or Class B misdemeanor;
(3) a Class C misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
(4) a violation of a state or federal narcotics or
controlled substances law; or
(5) an offense involving fraud or abuse under the
Medicare or Medicaid program.
(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date a person
described by Subsection (a) is convicted of an offense listed in
that subsection or is placed on deferred adjudication for an
offense listed in that subsection, the clerk of the court in which
the person is convicted or placed on deferred adjudication shall
prepare and forward to the Department of Public Safety the
information required by Chapter 60, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c) The duty of a clerk to prepare and forward information
under Subsection (b) is not affected by:
(1) any subsequent appeal of the conviction for the
offense reported; or
(2) any subsequent dismissal of proceedings related to
the placement on deferred adjudication for the offense reported.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 14.032(a), eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
§ 160.102. REPORT BY COURT TO BOARD. Not later than the
30th day after the date a court finds that a physician is mentally
ill or mentally incompetent, the clerk of the court of record in
which the finding is entered shall prepare and forward to the board
a certified abstract of record, regardless of whether the
adjudication or finding is subsequently withheld or appealed.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
