Bill > HB1756

This bill, titled the Healthcare Expanded and Accessed Locally for Texans (HEAL Texans) Act, comprehensively updates the legal definition and professional scope of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Texas. The bill expands APRNs' authority to practice independently by allowing them to order and perform diagnostic tests, formulate medical diagnoses, treat health problems, prescribe therapeutic measures, and serve as primary care providers. Specifically, the bill authorizes APRNs to prescribe a wide range of drugs, including controlled substances, dangerous drugs, and nonprescription medications, without requiring direct physician delegation. The legislation removes previous requirements for physician supervision and establishes APRNs as licensed independent practitioners who are professionally accountable for their actions, with the requirement to recognize their own professional limits and consult or refer patients to other healthcare providers as appropriate. The bill also makes numerous conforming amendments across various sections of Texas law to reflect these expanded professional capabilities, updating references to APRNs in multiple codes and ensuring they are treated equivalently to other healthcare practitioners in areas such as insurance, medical assistance programs, and prescription authorities. These changes aim to increase healthcare access, particularly in medically underserved areas, by removing bureaucratic barriers to APRNs' professional practice.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1756