88R770 BEE-D
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 2551
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing and regulation of associate physicians
  and the authority of an insured to select an associate physician
  under the insured's health insurance policy; requiring an
  occupational license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. ASSOCIATE PHYSICIAN 
         Sec. 155.201.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "associate
  physician" means an individual licensed under this subchapter to
  practice medicine under a collaborative practice agreement as
  described by Section 155.204.
         Sec. 155.202.  RULES. The board shall adopt rules in
  accordance with this subchapter relating to the licensing and
  regulation of associate physicians.
         Sec. 155.203.  LICENSE ISSUANCE. On application, the board
  shall issue a license to practice medicine under this subchapter to
  an applicant who:
               (1)  is a resident of this state and is a United States
  citizen or a legal permanent resident;
               (2)  has proficiency in the English language;
               (3)  is a graduate of a board-approved medical or
  osteopathic medical school;
               (4)  has passed the first and second components of the
  United States Medical Licensing Examination or the equivalent
  components of another board-approved licensing examination
  described by Section 155.0511:
                     (A)  not earlier than two years before the date
  the applicant submits an application for licensure as an associate
  physician; and
                     (B)  not more than three years after the date of
  the applicant's graduation from a medical school or osteopathic
  medical school; and
               (5)  either:
                     (A)  has not completed a board-approved
  postgraduate residency program; or
                     (B)  has completed a board-approved postgraduate
  residency program and passed the second component of the United
  States Medical Licensing Examination or the equivalent component of
  another board-approved medical licensing examination described by
  Section 155.0511 at any time before the date the applicant submits
  an application for licensure as an associate physician, if on the
  second anniversary of the date of completion of the examination
  requirement the applicant was serving as a resident physician in a
  board-approved postgraduate residency program in the United States
  and continued to do so until not earlier than the 30th day before
  the date the applicant submits an application for licensure as an
  associate physician.
         Sec. 155.204.  COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENT REQUIRED.
  (a) An associate physician may not practice as an associate
  physician unless the associate physician has entered into a
  collaborative practice agreement with a physician under this
  subtitle.
         (b)  An associate physician must enter into a collaborative
  practice agreement within the period prescribed by board rule.
         (c)  A collaborative practice agreement under this section:
               (1)  must be in writing;
               (2)  may be in the form of a written agreement,
  jointly-agreed protocols, or standing orders for the delivery of
  health care services; and
               (3)  may delegate to an associate physician the
  authority to administer or dispense drugs and provide treatment:
                     (A)  within the scope of practice of the associate
  physician as specified in the agreement; and
                     (B)  consistent with the skill, training, and
  competence of the associate physician and the collaborating
  physician.
         Sec. 155.205.  LIABILITY OF COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN. A
  physician who enters into a collaborative practice agreement with
  an associate physician under Section 155.204 is responsible at all
  times for the oversight of and is liable for any medical act
  performed by the associate physician in the practice of medicine.
         Sec. 155.206.  LICENSING OF ASSOCIATE PHYSICIAN AS
  PHYSICIAN. The board by rule shall adopt procedures for the
  issuance of a license to practice medicine as a physician to an
  associate physician who:
               (1)  not later than the first anniversary of the date of
  issuance of an associate physician license under this subchapter,
  completes the third component of the United States Medical
  Licensing Examination or the equivalent component of another
  board-approved licensing examination described by Section
  155.0511;
               (2)  practices for five years under a collaborative
  practice arrangement as described by Section 155.204; and
               (3)  after completing the collaborative practice
  period described by Subdivision (2), achieves a passing score in
  not more than three attempts on the endorsement examination
  described by Section 155.207.
         Sec. 155.207.  ENDORSEMENT EXAMINATION. (a) The board
  shall develop and administer an endorsement examination for
  associate physicians who satisfy the requirements of Sections
  155.206(1) and (2).
         (b)  The endorsement examination must assess an associate
  physician's mastery of the knowledge required of general primary
  care practitioners licensed in this state.
         (c)  The board shall provide practice testing materials to
  associate physicians during the collaborative practice period
  described by Section 155.206(2).
         Sec. 155.208.  LICENSING OF CERTAIN ASSOCIATE PHYSICIANS AS
  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. (a) The board and the Texas Physician
  Assistant Board shall jointly adopt rules providing for the
  issuance of a physician assistant license under Chapter 204 to an
  associate physician who does not satisfy the requirements of
  Section 155.206 for the issuance of a license as a physician.
         (b)  A rule adopted under Subsection (a) may not require an
  associate physician to satisfy any additional requirements under
  Chapter 204 for the issuance of a physician assistant license.
         Sec. 155.209.  EXPIRATION OF ASSOCIATE PHYSICIAN LICENSE.
  The board by rule shall adopt procedures for the expiration of the
  license of an associate physician who is not eligible for the
  issuance of a license as a:
               (1)  physician under Section 155.206; or
               (2)  physician assistant under Section 155.208.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1451.001, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
               (2-a)  "Associate physician" means an individual
  licensed under Subchapter E, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, to
  practice medicine under a collaborative practice agreement as
  described by Section 155.204, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1451, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1451.129 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1451.129.  SELECTION OF ASSOCIATE PHYSICIAN. An
  insured may select an associate physician to provide the services
  scheduled in the health insurance policy that are within the scope
  of the associate physician's license under Subchapter E, Chapter
  155, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 4.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Medical Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
  Subchapter E, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1451.129, Insurance Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a health insurance policy that is
  delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1,
  2024.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.