The Texas Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would require background checks for hospital operators to protect hospitals against corruption, according to Dallas News.
The bill, initially introduced by Republican Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD, in early December, would require hospital administrators to be more transparent regarding their ownership interests and allow the state to conduct safety inspections more frequently.
The amendment to require background checks was authored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D, to "prevent bad actors from inflicting damage on patients, public funds and local communities," she told lawmakers, according to the report. The amendment was approved unanimously.
The bill will now move to the House floor.