By: Coleman, Orr H.B. No. 1266
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1266:
By: Kolkhorst C.S.H.B. No. 1266
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study of the practice of advanced practice registered
nurses and the authority of those nurses to prescribe and order
prescription drugs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. INTERIM STUDY OF INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF
ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES. (a) The speaker of the house
of representatives and the lieutenant governor shall issue a joint
interim charge to the standing committees of the house of
representatives and senate with jurisdiction over health care
professionals to conduct a joint study as described by Subsection
(b).
(b) The study shall examine the independent practice of
advanced practice registered nurses to perform basic emergency and
non-emergency health care services and preventive health care
services within the scope of the health care providers' practice
and license, including:
(1) the potential cost savings of health care
providers who are not physicians performing these health care
services;
(2) the impact on access to health care services for
underserved communities and health professional shortage areas;
(3) any projected impact on patient safety and the
quality of care for persons treated by health care providers who are
not physicians;
(4) the effect on the state's overall health care
system; and
(5) the potential cost savings and other foreseeable
consequences of expanding the authority of advanced practice
registered nurses to prescribe medication to patients.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2013, the committees shall
report the committees' findings and recommendations to the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the governor. The committees shall include in their
recommendations specific changes to statutes and agency rules that
may be necessary according to the results of the committees' study
conducted under this section.
(d) Not later than November 1, 2011, the lieutenant governor
and the speaker of the house of representatives shall issue the
joint interim charge required by this section.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2011.