HBA-MPM H.B. 2558 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2558
By: Maxey
Public Health
7/9/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Information about physicians needs to be readily available to consumers in
order for them to make an informed choice in selecting a health provider.
Information such as education, years certified, nationallyrecognized
specialty certification, and information about past criminal conduct and
paid malpractice claims are being assembled by the Texas State Board of
Medical Examiners (TSBME) and is to be made available to consumers on the
Internet.  Legislation passed in the 76th Texas Legislature instructed
TSBME to raise fees by $20 to pay for this technology.  However, in the
2002-2003 biennium, TSBME is required to reduce the fees by $10.  Early
estimates of the cost of profile maintenance have proven to be too low, and
some believe the $20 fee is still needed to pay the costs of maintaining
the physician profiling system. House Bill 2558 provides that the fee of
$20 be retained. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2558 amends the Occupations Code to prohibit the Texas State
Board of Medical Examiners (TSBME) from adjusting a fee established on or
before August 31, 2001 to an amount less than the amount of the fee on
August 31, 2001. 

The bill repeals law that requires TSBME to raise fees in an amount not to
exceed $20 for the years 2000 and 2001 and not to exceed $10 for the years
2002 and 2003 for each board-licensed physician to cover administration
costs due to changes made by the law, including establishing the physician
profile system. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Vetoed.