(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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §30.185 adopted to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 10395