BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2093

By: Cortez

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The ability of Texas families to access behavioral health care services is an essential component of healthier, more productive communities. Physician assistants have a critical role in providing health care services in Texas. Recognition of physician assistants under federal statutes as non‑physician mental health professionals allows for reimbursement by Medicare, the Veterans Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. C.S.H.B. 2093 seeks to align federal and state statutes to prevent problems physician assistants have encountered with third-party reimbursement for their services by classifying licensed physician assistants who have expertise in psychiatry or are currently working in a mental health facility as a non-physician mental health professional under the Texas Mental Health Code.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2093 amends the Health and Safety Code to classify a physician assistant licensed to practice in Texas who has expertise in psychiatry or is currently working in a mental health facility as a non-physician mental health professional under the Texas Mental Health Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2093 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute specifies that the physician assistant classified as a non-physician mental health professional has expertise in psychiatry or is currently working in a mental health facility.