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.