SRC-VRA S.B. 769 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 769
By: Carona
Health & Human Services
6/9/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 77th Texas Legislature set forth provisions relating to the practice,
education, and training of a surgical assistant, and created an advisory
committee to advise the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners concerning
the regulation of surgical assistants.  However, inconsistencies between
the state statutory surgical assistant licensure processes and federal
surgical assistant certification standards have led to a surgical
assistance shortage in Texas.  S.B. 769 provides that a surgical assistant
license expires on the second anniversary of the date of issuance. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Ruelemaking authority expressly granted to the Texas State Board of
Medical Examiners is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 206.210(a),
Occupations Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 206.210(a), Occupations Code, to provide that a
surgical assistant's license expires on the second anniversary of the date
of issuance.  Requires the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners by rule
to provide for the renewal of a surgical assistant license. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 206, Occupations Code, by adding
Section 206.2525, as follows:   

Sec.  206.2525.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES.  (a)  Provides that this
chapter does not limit the way in which a surgical assistant licensed
under this chapter may be reimbursed for services. 

(b)  Authorizes a surgical assistant licensed under this chapter to
directly bill a patient or third-party payor for services provided by the
surgical assistant. 

SECTION 3.(a)  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.

  (b)  Makes application of Section 206.210(a), as amended by this Act,
prospective.