| (a) To apply to the MQRP, a person must submit an application
in the form and manner required by the division demonstrating compliance
with the required qualifications. The application must contain complete
information as provided by subsection (b) of this section. The medical
advisor and the Commissioner may select and appoint only qualified
applicants to the division's MQRP but are not required to accept all
applicants who meet the requirements specified in this subchapter.
(b) The division's required application form for the
MQRP, at a minimum, shall include:
(1) contact information for the health care practitioner;
(2) information about the health care practitioner's
education;
(3) a description of the health care practitioner's
license(s), certifications, and professional specialty, if any;
(4) a description of the health care practitioner's
work history and hospital or other health care practitioner affiliations;
(5) a description of any affiliations the health care
practitioner has with a workers' compensation health care network
certified under Chapter 1305 of the Insurance Code or a political
subdivision as described in Labor Code §504.053(b)(2);
(6) identification of and a description of all current
and past medical review affiliations, including but not limited to
an independent review organization (IRO), utilization review agent
(URA), licensing board, and insurance carrier;
(7) information regarding the health care practitioner's
current practice locations;
(8) disclosure regarding the health care practitioner's
professional background, education, training, and fitness to perform
the duties of an MQRP member, including disclosure of any disciplinary
actions or other sanctions taken against the health care practitioner
by any state licensing board, state or federal agency, and hospital
or other health care institution, as well as disclosure of any voluntary
relinquishments, drug and alcohol misuse, malpractice claims history
and criminal history;
(9) a description of all ownership interests or other
financial arrangements, such as salaried or contract employment, involving
a person or their agent subject to the Act or a rule, order, or decision
of the commissioner;
(10) an authorization for third parties to release
information relevant to the verification of the information provided
on the application to the division;
(11) an affirmation that all information provided in
the application is accurate and complete to the best of the health
care practitioner's knowledge; and
(12) an affirmation of understanding of the legal requirements,
including confidentiality provisions, for MQRP members.
(c) A credentialing application for hospital credentialing
may substitute for some items under subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The health care practitioner must inform the medical
advisor of any changes to this information within 30 days after the
change.
(e) The application shall be reviewed by the medical
advisor.
(f) The medical advisor and the commissioner have the
discretion to select, appoint and remove an applicant to the MQRP.
(g) Membership in the MQRP is for a term of 10 years.
The acceptance letter will include the effective date and expiration
date.
(h) Membership in the MQRP is not a guarantee of any
number of assignments.
(i) MQRP members shall be entitled to compensation
for work assigned by the medical advisor at the following hourly rates:
(1) Doctors - Medical case reviews, ad hoc work groups,
or special projects: $150 per hour.
(2) Non-Doctors - Medical case reviews, ad hoc work
groups or special projects: $100 per hour.
(3) Limits on hours. A member shall not be paid for
more than:
(A) five hours for a medical case review of a single
case;
(B) five hours for ad hoc work group or special project
service; or
(C) 20 hours in a given calendar month.
(4) The medical advisor may approve additional hours
in writing upon review of a submitted narrative report or a report
of an ad hoc work group.
(5) Hearings or trial preparation.
(A) Doctors - Payment for time spent in hearing or
in trial preparation, in providing testimony in deposition, hearing
or trial: $350 per hour.
(B) Non-doctors - Payment for time spent in hearing
or in trial preparation, in providing testimony in deposition, hearing
or trial: $175 per hour.
(C) An MQRP member shall not be paid for more than
eight hours per day for a deposition, a hearing, trial preparation
or court testimony. If travel is required, the division will pay the
member for travel, lodging and per diem expenses in accordance with
the Texas State Travel Management Program, 34 TAC §20.301 et
seq.
(6) The division may vary the above reimbursement provisions
if deemed by the division to be in the best interests of the division
or the State of Texas.
(j) In accordance with Labor Code §§402.083
- 402.086, 402.091, 402.092, and 413.0513, an MQRP member may not
disclose confidential information, including a report or other documentation
prepared by the MQRP member for the division.
(k) All reports and related documents, including electronic
and non-electronic data, prepared by or furnished to the member for
the MQRP, are the sole property of the division.
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