BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1604
                                                        By: Truan
                                                          Finance
                                                         04-21-95
                                       Committee Report (Amended)
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 of which 104 are
designated as both a rural Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
and a rural Medically Underserved Area (MUA), 10 counties are
designated as a rural HPSA, and 72 counties are designated as an
MUA.  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

As proposed, S.B. 1604 amends 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), Article 4495b-1, V.T.C.S.
(Physician Assistant Licensing Act), to require the Physician
Assistant Advisory Council to designate annually a portion of the
revenue generated under this Act from physician assistant licensing
fees to 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 or rural
medically underserved areas, rather than both areas.  Deletes
reference to the areas being identified by the Texas Department of
Health.

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.