Texas Senate Bill SB202

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08
• Out of Senate Committee: 3/2/09
• Voted on by Senate: 3/19/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/18/09
• Voted on by House: 5/25/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/26/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to provisional licensing of physicians to practice in underserved areas.

Impact

The implementation of SB202 is expected to significantly impact state laws concerning the licensing of medical practitioners. By allowing provisional licenses, the state legislature seeks to streamline the hiring of physicians, potentially leading to a more responsive healthcare system that can adapt to the needs of communities facing physician shortages. This change could facilitate quicker deployment of medical professionals to critical areas, enhancing patient care and improving health metrics across underserved populations.

Summary

Senate Bill 202 is designed to address the shortage of healthcare providers in underserved areas by introducing provisional licensing for physicians. The bill stipulates that physicians licensed in other states with comparable licensure requirements can obtain a provisional license to practice in designated health professional shortage areas or medically underserved areas in Texas. This initiative aims to enhance the availability of medical services in regions experiencing a lack of healthcare providers, thereby improving overall access to care for residents in these areas.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its potential to alleviate healthcare shortages, there may be points of contention regarding its implementation and oversight. Critics may voice concerns about the adequacy of training and expertise of physicians operating under provisional licenses, raising questions on the quality of care provided. Additionally, there could be debates on the criteria for designating what constitutes an underserved area, as well as the monitoring of provisional licensees to ensure they meet the standards expected of fully licensed physicians.