1. (a) The system is designed to protect and enhance the rural health care delivery system by:

   1. (1) establishing a statewide rural health care network;
   2. (2) supporting funding to rural communities;
   3. (3) enabling administrative simplification for the benefit of rural providers that participate in various health care plans; and
   4. (4) ensuring the inclusion of consumer-oriented attributes considered important to a successful health care organization.

2. (b) The attributes described by Subsection (a)(4) include:

   1. (1) consideration of patient rights;
   2. (2) preservation of patient rights;
   3. (3) preservation of the provider-patient relationship;
   4. (4) emphasis on prevention and wellness;
   5. (5) an appropriate credentialing and peer review program; and
   6. (6) emphasis on quality improvement and disease management.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 10A.218(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.