BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1373 89R8844 MPF-D By: Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" Health & Human Services 4/11/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower leg through both surgical and non-surgical methods. Surgical procedures, requiring hospital care, are performed by podiatrists credentialed at Texas-licensed hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers based on their education, training, and experience. The demand for podiatric physicians is rising due to aging populations, diabetes, obesity, and related complications. In response, the 87th Legislature, 2021, funded Texas's first School of Podiatric Medicine at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Beginning in 2026, Texas-trained podiatrists will enter residency programs, making it crucial to ensure they can fully utilize their training and licensure within the state. S.B. 1373 addresses this by requiring hospitals to apply an objective privileging process for all medical staff, including physicians, dentists, and podiatrists. Ensuring fair access to hospital privileges will support new practitioners and strengthen Texas's healthcare workforce. As proposed, S.B. 1373 amends current law relating to the process by which a hospital makes certain determinations regarding medical staff privileges. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 241.101, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (g), as follows: (c-1) Requires that the process used to determine whether to grant or deny medical staff privileges or to renew or modify medical staff privileges be an objective process during which criteria adopted by the hospital for that purpose are applied in a consistent manner to each person requesting medical staff privileges or the renewal or modification of medical staff privileges. (g) Authorizes a hospital's requirements, rather than bylaw requirements, for staff privileges, including requirements contained in the hospital's bylaws or any other hospital policy, to require a physician, podiatrist, or dentist to document the person's current clinical competency and professional training and experience in the medical procedures for which privileges are requested. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1373
89R8844 MPF-D By: Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"
Health & Human Services
4/11/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1373
89R8844 MPF-D
By: Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"
Health & Human Services
4/11/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower leg through both surgical and non-surgical methods. Surgical procedures, requiring hospital care, are performed by podiatrists credentialed at Texas-licensed hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers based on their education, training, and experience.
The demand for podiatric physicians is rising due to aging populations, diabetes, obesity, and related complications. In response, the 87th Legislature, 2021, funded Texas's first School of Podiatric Medicine at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Beginning in 2026, Texas-trained podiatrists will enter residency programs, making it crucial to ensure they can fully utilize their training and licensure within the state.
S.B. 1373 addresses this by requiring hospitals to apply an objective privileging process for all medical staff, including physicians, dentists, and podiatrists. Ensuring fair access to hospital privileges will support new practitioners and strengthen Texas's healthcare workforce.
As proposed, S.B. 1373 amends current law relating to the process by which a hospital makes certain determinations regarding medical staff privileges.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 241.101, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (g), as follows:
(c-1) Requires that the process used to determine whether to grant or deny medical staff privileges or to renew or modify medical staff privileges be an objective process during which criteria adopted by the hospital for that purpose are applied in a consistent manner to each person requesting medical staff privileges or the renewal or modification of medical staff privileges.
(g) Authorizes a hospital's requirements, rather than bylaw requirements, for staff privileges, including requirements contained in the hospital's bylaws or any other hospital policy, to require a physician, podiatrist, or dentist to document the person's current clinical competency and professional training and experience in the medical procedures for which privileges are requested.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.