C.S.H.B. 3008 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 3008
By: Capelo
Public Health
Committee Report (Substituted)
   

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
During the 77th Legislative Session (2001), the Legislature passed HB
1183, which created a titlelicensing bill for surgical assistants.
Surgical assistants, (they are  also called surgical first assistants),
are typically non-physicians, although some physicians assist at surgery
on a regular basis.  Some nurses and some physician assistants also
perform as "first assistants" during surgery, but they are not required to
be "licensed surgical assistants" under HB 1183.  HB 1183 provides for
annual renewal of the license.  To relieve this administrative burden,
this bill requires renewal every two years. 

Finally, HB 1183 contained reimbursement provisions to enable surgical
assistants to be more easily directly reimbursed by insurance companies
and health plans.  This bill adds clarifying language to state that
surgical assistants can direct bill 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS
Section 1. Amends Section 206.210, Occupations Code to provide that a
surgical assistant license expires on the second anniversary of the date
of issuance, rather than annually. 

Section 2. Adds a new section to Chapter 206, Occupations Code, to provide
that a surgical assistant can direct bill for surgical assistant services.

Section 3. Act takes effect September 1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3008 deletes Section 1 and Section 2 of the original bill.
Section 1 would have changed the work experience required of a surgical
assistant to be eligible for a license from 2000 hours to 1200 hours.
Section 2 of the bill would have allowed an applicant for a surgical
assistant license to complete a list of academic science courses and
surgical procedures in lieu of a surgical assistant program because there
are no surgical assistant programs in Texas. 

The substitute contains only two provisions:  1) Provides that a surgical
assistant license expires on the second anniversary of the date of
issuance rather than annually. 2) Authorizes a surgical assistant to
directly bill a patient or third-party payor for services provided by the
surgical assistant.