1. (a) In this section, "hospitalist" means a physician who:

   1. (1) serves as physician of record at a hospital for a hospitalized patient of another physician; and
   2. (2) returns the care of the patient to that other physician at the end of the patient's hospitalization.
2. (b) A contract between a health maintenance organization and a physician may not require the physician to use a hospitalist for a hospitalized patient.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 10A.211(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.