Substituted for: House Bill No. 1659

AN ACT To amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-9-106, relative to discrimination against osteopathic physicians in certain circumstances.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-9-106, is amended by adding the following new language, to be designated subsection "(c)":

(c) When medical training and specialty board certification are considerations in the credentialing of osteopathic physicians, no state board, commission or department (created or existing), or hospital, health care facility, medical staff, professional service corporation or professional limited liability corporation, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, independent practice association, managed care organization, health plan or any other insurance provider, shall discriminate, on the basis of education, against eligible osteopathic physicians who have:

(1) Graduated from medical school and post-doctoral programs approved by either the American Osteopathic Association or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; or

(2) Been awarded board eligibility or board certification by specialty boards recognized by either the American Osteopathic Association or the American Board of Medical Specialties.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.