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Texas Insurance Code - Not Codified - Article 21.49-4. Self-Insurance Trusts

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Insurance Code - Not Codified > Texas Insurance Code - Not Codified - Article 21.49-4. Self-Insurance Trusts

Art. 21.49-4. SELF-INSURANCE TRUSTS. Article repealed effective April 1, 2007 (a) In this article: (1) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in this state. (2) "Dentist" means a person licensed to practice dentistry in this state. (3) "Health care liability claim" means a cause of action against a physician or dentist for treatment, lack of treatment, or other claimed departure from accepted standards of health care or safety which proximately results in injury to or death of the patient, whether the patient's claim or cause of action sounds in tort or contract. (4) "Charitable organization" has the meaning assigned by Section 84.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. (5) "Volunteer health care provider" has the meaning assigned by Section 84.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. (b) An incorporated association, the purpose of which, among other things, shall be to federate and bring into one compact organization the entire profession licensed to practice medicine and surgery or dentistry in the State of Texas, or a portion of the members of the profession licensed to practice medicine who are practicing a particular specialty within the practice of medicine or surgery in the state or are practicing within a particular region of the state, may create a trust to self-insure physicians or dentists and by contract or otherwise agree to insure other members of the organization or association against health care liability claims and related risks on complying with the following conditions: (1) the organization or association must have been in continuing existence for a period of at least two years; (2) establishment of a health care liability claim trust or other agreement to provide coverage against health care liability claims and related risks; and (3) employment of appropriate professional staff and consultants for program management. (c) The trust may purchase, on behalf of the members of the organizing association, medical professional liability insurance, specific excess insurance, aggregate excess insurance, and reinsurance, as in the opinion of the trustees are necessary. The trust fund is further authorized to purchase such risk management services as may be required and pay claims that arise under any deductible provisions. (c-1) The trust, in accordance with Subsection (c) of this article, may make available professional liability insurance covering a volunteer health care provider for an act or omission resulting in death, damage, or injury to a patient while the person is acting in the course and scope of the person's duties as a volunteer health care provider as described by Chapter 84, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. This subsection does not affect the liability of a volunteer health care provider who is serving as a direct service volunteer of a charitable organization. Section 84.004(c), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, applies to the volunteer health care provider without regard to whether the volunteer health care provider obtains liability insurance under this subsection. The trust may make professional liability insurance available under this subsection to a volunteer health care provider without regard to whether the volunteer health care provider is a physician or dentist. (d) The trust investment powers and limitations shall be the same as those of any state bank with trust powers. The trust shall adopt rules and regulations to guarantee all contingent liabilities in the event of dissolution. (e) The trust is not engaged in the business of insurance under this code and other laws of this state and the provisions of any chapters or sections of this code are declared inapplicable to a trust organized and operated under this article, provided that the State Board of Insurance may require any trust created under this article to satisfy reasonable minimum requirements to insure the capability of the trust to satisfy its contractual obligations. (f) On request, the trust shall furnish such books, records and documents as are required by the State Board of Insurance to fulfill its obligations under Subsection (e) of this article relating to the solvency of the trust. (g) The trust shall file, for informational purposes only, all rates and forms with the State Board of Insurance. (h) The trust shall file with the State Board of Insurance all liability claims reports which are required pursuant to Articles 1.24A and 1.24B, Insurance Code. (i) If the trust is found to be in violation of or to have failed to comply with any provision of this code or any duly promulgated rule or regulation of the State Board of Insurance which is declared applicable to a trust organized and operated under this article, the State Board of Insurance, pursuant to Section 7, Article 1.10, Insurance Code, may order sanctions for such violation. (j) The trust shall file its independently audited annual financial statement with the State Board of Insurance; this audit shall not be considered an examination document. Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2063, ch. 817, Sec. 31.13, eff. Aug. 29, 1977. Subsecs. (f) to (j) added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 608, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Subsec. (b) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 206, Sec. 19.01, eff. June 11, 2003; Subsec. (a)(4), (5) added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 184, Sec.2, eff. May 27, 2005; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 246, Sec. 2, eff. May 30, 2005; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1136, Sec. 3, eff. June 18, 2005; Subsec. (c-1) added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 184, Sec. 3, eff. May 27, 2005; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 246, Sec. 3, eff. May 30, 2005; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1136, Sec. 4, eff. June 18, 2005.

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Last modified: August 10, 2007