Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68, Chapter 11.

This bill authorizes a hospital or an affiliated entity to employ an emergency physician to treat patients at a satellite emergency department, or a physician to treat patients at a primary care clinic or urgent care clinic, that is located in this state and owned or controlled by the hospital or affiliated entity, if the following conditions are met: <br /> <br /> (1) The hospital is located in a neighboring state in a county contiguous to this state; is licensed by the appropriate healthcare facility licensing authority in that state; and holds a valid certificate of need for a satellite emergency department in this state;<br /> <br /> (2) The physician is licensed to practice medicine in this state; and <br /> <br /> (3) The employment relationship with the physician is evidenced by a written contract, job description, or other documentation containing language that does not restrict the physician from exercising independent medical judgment in diagnosing and treating patients. <br /> <br /> This bill clarifies that a hospital or affiliated entity that employs a physician pursuant to the provisions above is not deemed to be engaged in the practice of medicine.<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 30, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 560, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 adds the following additional condition to the list above: <br /> <br /> (4) The satellite emergency department, primary care clinic, or urgent care clinic is located:<br /> <br /> (A) In a county that (i) borders the neighboring state and contiguous county in which the hospital is located; (ii) is designated as an economically distressed or at-risk county by the department of economic and community development, as updated annually; (iii) has a population of less than 27,000; and (iv) had a hospital in the county close within eight years before the date healthcare services are initiated at the satellite emergency department, primary care clinic, or urgent care clinic; and<br /> <br /> (B) Less than 20 miles from a hospital designated as a Level I, II, or III trauma center in the neighboring state, but more than 50 miles from a hospital designated as a Level I, II, or III trauma center in this state;<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #2 clarifies that in order to be employed as an emergency physician to treat patients at a satellite emergency department or to treat patients at a primary care clinic or urgent care clinic that is located in this state and owned or controlled by the hospital or affiliated entity, a physician must be licensed to practice medicine in Tennessee and employed at the hospital in the neighboring state. <br />