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.