BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1604
By: Rosson (Berlanga)
May 9, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Physician Assistant Loan Reimbursement Program provides for
student loan reimbursement for graduates of physician assistant
programs in this state who practice in rural health professional
shortage areas. Data from the Center for Rural Health Initiatives
indicate that there are 196 rural counties in Texas, of which 104
are designated as both rural Health Professional Shortage Areas
(HPSA) and rural Medically Underserved Areas (MUA). Additionally,
10 counties are designated as rural HPSAs, and 72 counties are
designated as MUAs. Currently, the 72 counties with an MUA
designation are not able to utilize this program to recruit
physician assistants due to the provision requiring a physician
assistant to agree to practice in a HPSA in order to be considered
for participation in the program.

PURPOSE

S.B. 1604 would amend current law relating to the rural physician
assistant loan reimbursement program to include rural medically
underserved areas.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 23(a), Physician Assistant Licensing Act
(Article 4495b-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to add rural
medically underserved areas to the requirement that the Physician
Assistant Advisory Council designate annually a portion of the
revenue generated under this Act from physician assistant licensing
fees be set aside to provide student loan reimbursement for
graduates of physician assistant training programs in this state
who practice in rural health professional shortage areas identified
by the Texas Department of Health.

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

S.B. 1604 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a public
hearing on May 9, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without
amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed
and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by the
record vote of 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, and 2 ABSENT.