Bill Text: TX HB2525 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of physician assistants and anesthesiologist assistants.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-02 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB2525 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB2525-Comm_Sub.html

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85R21304 JCG-D
By: Zerwas, Oliverson, Parker H.B. No. 2525
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2525:
By: Hernandez C.S.H.B. No. 2525

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of physician assistants and
anesthesiologist assistants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 204.060 to read as follows:
Sec. 204.060. ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. (a) The anesthesiologist assistant advisory committee
consists of seven members appointed by the presiding officer of the
physician assistant board.
(b) The committee consists of:
(1) four anesthesiologist assistants; and
(2) three physician anesthesiologists.
(c) The committee members serve:
(1) at the will of the presiding officer of the
physician assistant board; and
(2) without compensation or reimbursement for
expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a committee
member.
(d) The committee shall:
(1) meet at the call of the presiding officer of the
physician assistant board; and
(2) provide recommendations to the physician
assistant board on matters related to the regulation of
anesthesiologist assistants as requested by the presiding officer
of the physician assistant board.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 204.102, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 204.102. POWERS AND DUTIES OF MEDICAL BOARD RELATING
TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS.
SECTION 3. Section 204.102(a), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The medical board shall adopt rules consistent with this
chapter to regulate:
(1) physician assistants;
(2) [and] physicians who supervise physician
assistants;
(3) anesthesiologist assistants; and
(4) physician anesthesiologists who supervise
anesthesiologist assistants.
SECTION 4. Section 204.151, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 204.151. LICENSE REQUIRED; EXCEPTION. (a) A person
may not practice as a physician assistant in this state unless the
person holds a physician assistant license issued under this
chapter.
(b) An anesthesiologist assistant is not required to obtain
a license under this chapter and may practice as an
anesthesiologist assistant under the delegated authority of a
licensed physician.
SECTION 5. Section 204.152(a), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The physician assistant board shall issue a physician
assistant or anesthesiologist assistant license to an applicant
who:
(1) meets the eligibility requirements of Section
204.153 or 204.1535, as applicable;
(2) submits an application on a form prescribed by the
board;
(3) pays the required application fee;
(4) certifies that the applicant is mentally and
physically able to function safely as a physician assistant; and
(5) submits to the board any other information the
board considers necessary to evaluate the applicant's
qualifications.
SECTION 6. The heading to Section 204.153, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 204.153. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT LICENSE.
SECTION 7. Section 204.153(a), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible for a physician assistant license under
this chapter, an applicant must:
(1) successfully complete an educational program for
physician assistants or surgeon assistants accredited by the
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician
Assistant [Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation]
or by that commission's [committee's] predecessor or successor
entities;
(2) pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying
Examination administered by the National Commission on
Certification of Physician Assistants or the commission's
successor entity;
(3) hold a certificate issued by the National
Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or the
commission's successor entity;
(4) be of good moral character;
(5) meet any other requirement established by
physician assistant board rule; and
(6) pass a jurisprudence examination approved by the
physician assistant board as provided by Subsection (a-1).
SECTION 8. Subchapter D, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 204.1535 to read as follows:
Sec. 204.1535. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT LICENSE. To be eligible for an
anesthesiologist assistant license under this chapter, an
applicant must:
(1) successfully complete an educational program for
anesthesiologist assistants accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or by that
commission's predecessor or successor entities;
(2) pass the Certifying Examination for
Anesthesiologist Assistants administered by the National
Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or the
commission's successor entity;
(3) hold a certificate issued by the National
Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or the
commission's successor entity;
(4) be of good moral character;
(5) meet any other requirement established by
physician assistant board rule; and
(6) pass a jurisprudence examination approved by the
physician assistant board that is comparable to the examination
under Section 204.153(a-1).
SECTION 9. Section 204.201, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 204.201. NOTICE OF INTENT TO PRACTICE. (a) Before
beginning practice, each person [physician assistant] licensed
under this chapter shall submit on a form prescribed by the
physician assistant board notice of the license holder's intent to
practice. The notice must include:
(1) the name, business address, license number, and
telephone number of the license holder [physician assistant]; and
(2) the name, business address, Texas license number,
and telephone number of the license holder's [physician
assistant's] supervising physician or supervising physician
anesthesiologist, as applicable.
(b) A license holder [physician assistant] shall notify the
physician assistant board of any change in, or addition to, the
person acting as a supervising physician or supervising physician
anesthesiologist, as applicable, [for the physician assistant] not
later than the 30th day after the date the change or addition
occurs.
SECTION 10. The heading to Section 204.202, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 204.202. SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
SECTION 11. Subchapter E, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 204.2025 to read as follows:
Sec. 204.2025. SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR ANESTHESIOLOGIST
ASSISTANT. (a) The practice of an anesthesiologist assistant
includes providing medical services delegated by a supervising
physician anesthesiologist that are within the education,
training, and experience of the anesthesiologist assistant.
(b) Medical services provided by an anesthesiologist
assistant may include:
(1) obtaining an appropriate and accurate
pre-anesthetic health history;
(2) performing an appropriate physical examination
and recording pertinent information in an organized and legible
manner;
(3) performing diagnostic laboratory and related
studies as appropriate, including drawing arterial and venous blood
samples;
(4) performing the insertion of invasive monitoring
modalities, including transesophageal echocardiography probes,
arterial lines, pulmonary artery catheters, and central venous
lines, as delegated by the supervising physician anesthesiologist;
(5) administering anesthetic agents and controlled
substances, including administering induction agents, maintaining
and altering anesthesia levels, administering adjunctive
treatments, and providing continuity of anesthetic care into and
during the post-operative recovery period;
(6) establishing airway interventions and performing
ventilation support;
(7) applying, performing, and interpreting advanced
monitoring techniques;
(8) using advanced life support techniques, including
high frequency ventilation and intra-arterial cardiovascular
assist devices;
(9) monitoring patients after the administration of
anesthesia by recording patient progress notes, compiling and
recording case summaries, and transcribing standing and specific
orders;
(10) evaluating and treating life-threatening
situations, including performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, on
the basis of established protocols, including basic life support,
advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support
protocols; and
(11) performing duties in intensive care units, pain
clinics, and other settings, as delegated by the supervising
physician anesthesiologist.
SECTION 12. Section 204.204, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) An anesthesiologist assistant must be supervised by a
supervising physician anesthesiologist in the same manner that a
physician assistant is supervised by a supervising physician under
Subsections (a), (b), and (c), except that during the provision of
any anesthesia service by an anesthesiologist assistant, the
supervising physician anesthesiologist shall maintain a physical
proximity that enables the supervising physician anesthesiologist
to be immediately available if needed.
SECTION 13. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the presiding officer of the Texas Physician Assistant
Board shall appoint seven members to the anesthesiologist assistant
advisory committee in accordance with Section 204.060, Occupations
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 14. (a) Sections 204.152 and 204.153, Occupations
Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 204.1535, Occupations
Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an application for a
license submitted to the Texas Physician Assistant Board on or
after the effective date of this Act. An application submitted
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
effect on the date the application was submitted, and the former law
is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
Act, the Texas Physician Assistant Board or Texas Medical Board, as
appropriate, shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes
in law made by this Act to Chapter 204, Occupations Code.
SECTION 15. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.