By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 2796



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Border Health Institute of health care 
delivery in the border area.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended 
by adding a new section 151.011 to read as follows:  SECTION 151.011 
BORDER AREA HEALTH CARE DELIVERY STUDY
	(a)  The institute shall study the health care delivery 
system in the border area.  As part of the study the institute 
shall:
		(1)  identify the ways in which non–physician health 
care providers are being used to provide health care services in 
border areas;
		(2)  determine which border areas have been successful 
and unsuccessful in recruiting physicians and non–physicians and 
retaining health care providers to practice in border areas;
		(3)  identify the non-physician health care providers 
who could, within the scope of the health care provider's license, 
certification, or registration, supplement the provision of health 
care services in the border areas;
		(4)  examine whether non-physician health care 
providers, or delivery of services by non–physician health care 
providers in nontraditional settings, or delivery of services by 
non–physician health care providers with additional treatment 
authority would provide a benefit in the delivery of health care 
services in border areas; and
		(5)  recommend pilot programs to test and implement the 
study recommendations.
	(b)  In performing the study under Subsection (a) of this 
section, the Institute shall consult with a variety of the health 
care practitioners in the border area, including emergency medical 
service providers, physicians, hospitals, optometrists, 
podiatrists, advanced nurse practitioners, chiropractors, health 
clinics, and family planning clinics.
	(c)  For purposes of this section, "border area" shall mean 
all counties which are located in whole or in part within 100 
kilometers of the Texas border with Mexico.
	(d)  Not later than January 1, 2007 the Institute shall 
report the results of the study conducted under this section in 
writing to the governor, lieutenant governor, the speaker of the 
house representatives, and members of the legislature.  The report 
must include any proposed legislation the institute, through this 
study, determines will facilitate the improvement of the delivery 
of health care in border areas.
	(e)  This act expires September 1, 2007.                                
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect on September 1, 2005.