Sec. 162.153.  STANDARDIZED CREDENTIALS VERIFICATION PROGRAM.  (a)  The board shall develop standardized forms and guidelines for and administer:
(1)  the collection, verification, correction, updating, modification, maintenance, and storage of information relating to physician credentials;  and
(2)  the release of that information to health care entities or designated credentials verification organizations authorized by the physician to receive that information.
(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a physician whose core credentials data is submitted to the board is not required to resubmit the data when applying for practice privileges with a health care entity.
(c)  A physician shall:
(1)  provide to the board any correction, update, or modification of the physician's core credentials data not later than the 30th day after the date the data on file is no longer accurate;  and
(2)  resubmit the physician's core credentials data annually if the physician did not submit a correction, update, or modification during the preceding year.
(d)  A health care entity that employs, contracts with, or credentials physicians must use the board to obtain core credentials data for items for which the board is designated or accepted as a primary source by a national accreditation organization.  A health care entity may act through its designated credentials verification organization.
(e)  This section does not restrict the authority of a health care entity to approve or deny an original or renewal application for hospital staff membership, clinical privileges, or managed care network participation. 
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.033(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.