1) What does this bill mean for Texas PAs?
- The LAC formed a task force to lead the negotiations for TAPA with the TMA and the Nurses Coalition. This task force included: Lauren Dobbs, Karrie Crosby, Todd Pickard, Melinda Moore, Jaime Capelo and Lisa Jackson. This group worked tirelessly over several months to ensure that the bill contains victories for the PA profession and moves our practice forward. The following summarizes the changes to current law that are included in this bill that represent MAJOR VICTORIES for PAs in Texas:
• Reduces site-based language from 5 settings to 2 (community and facility-based).
• Delegation of schedule II medications to PAs working in Hospitals or for patients in Hospice.
• Increases the number of PAs that a physician can delegate prescriptive practice from 4 to 7.
• Allows for unlimited delegated prescriptive practice in underserved and rural areas.
• Clarifies language that allows for unlimited delegated prescriptive practice at Hospitals.
• Removes the limitation for physicians to delegate prescriptive practice only at one Hospital.
• Removes distance limitations for physician supervision.
• Removes the percentage of charts that a physician must review and co-sign.
• Improves PA Board collaboration with the Medical Board and Nursing Board.
• Removes requirements for a percentage of hours of operation that a physician must be present at a practice.
It means that there will be some simplification on the rules that govern how we practice with physicians. As of now there are complicated and confusing site-based rules that have 5 different sites. Moving to two simplified sites (hospital and community settings) will make it easier to understand the rules. It also eliminates distance limitations, physician chart review, daily logs and many other cumbersome administrative tasks. It also allows for a physician to delegate up to 7 PA. This is an increase from the current limit of 4. Also for the first time PAs will be officially recognized as Primary Care Providers and be able to Order DME for our patients. It is a big step forward. TAPA will continue to seek improvements in our practice act and this is part of that ongoing effort.
2) How did you engage the legislature?
We negotiated with the TMA and Nurses Coalition for several months, met with the Senate Health Committee Chair, met with the House Public Health Committee Chair, held a PA day at the Capitol where more than 40 PAs and Students did 60 visits, canvassed the capitol and held additional visits with the legislators, and reached out to our membership to call their representatives in support of our legislative agenda. It was a lot of hard work and took many months. We also worked with the TAPA PAC to make key donations for the primaries and general elections held this past fall.
TAPA’s Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) works with our lobbyist, Jaime Capelo, who assists us in staying, engaged legislatively. As a result, we have developed relationships with key stakeholders and legislative committees in regards issues relevant to PA practice. We have also partnered with physician groups who have interests in seeing the physician-PA team practice model work.
3) What can someone do to help out next time there is an important bill?
The best way to get involved and be a part of the bill making process and affect the next legislative session is to get involved with the Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC). Students and practicing PAs are encouraged to sign up every June via the TAPA website to participate in committees. The state legislative sessions are every 2 years but planning and work for the legislative session begins the year prior. TAPA also hosts a Legislative Day for PAs to discuss bills with legislators every legislative session and is an additional way to get involved. TAPA also hosts a Legislative PA Day every session where PAs can learn about the legislative process and lobbying. Then teams conduct visits to Legislative offices.
Donate to the TAPA PAC and come to the PA Day at the Capitol. Calling your representative’s and senator’s office to voice support for the TAPA legislative agenda and bills is also crucial. It takes time and money to get the message out and get support for the PA Profession.
