| (a) A resident physician selected to receive a stipend
must enter into a written contract with the department before the
award is received. The contract must specify that:
(1) within 90 days of completion of the residency program
for first board eligibility, the physician must initiate a medical
practice to provide physician services, as defined by the contract,
in a medically underserved area for one year for each year that the
physician receives a stipend;
(2) the physician must not discriminate against patients
seeking care based on their ability to pay or whether payment is made
through Medicaid or Medicare;
(3) the physician must accept Medicare assignment and
make every attempt to enroll as a provider in the Medicare and Texas
Medicaid Programs unless enrollment is denied by either the Medicare
or Texas Medicaid Programs;
(4) the physician must cooperate with the department
in its efforts to collect information and data relevant to the program;
(5) the physician must keep the department informed
of all changes in address and phone number during the service obligation
period; and
(6) the department will report a physician whose repayment
account is delinquent, or who fails to repay his or her cash obligation,
to the Texas Medical Board for appropriate action.
(b) The department may withdraw a stipend if it determines
the resident physician is no longer eligible to qualify for participation
in the program.
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