Bill
SB 654
85(R) - 2017
Senate Health & Human Services
House Public Health
Senate Health & Human Services
House Public Health
Department of Health
Health & Human Services
Healthcare
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Positive
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
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Neutral
Author(s)
Kel Seliger
Sponsor(s)
John Smithee
Bill Caption
Relating to the participation of an advanced practice registered nurse as a primary care or network provider for certain governmental and other health benefit plans.
Fiscal Notes
From the LBB: No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
This bill would allow an advance practice registered nurse (APRN) to be "included as a primary care
provider in a managed care organization’s provider network
regardless of whether the physician supervising the advanced
practice registered nurse is in the provider network" This would also apply for provider networks for certain other health benefit plans.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill allows APRNs greater autonomy over their practice and patients, and mitigates many access problems that currently plague Texas. This bill would help people in medically underserved areas have an APRN as a primary care provider in their area even if the supervising physician is not in the provider network. This would also allow for more affordable care from APRNs. Therefore we support this bill.
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