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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the pilot program to provide health services to state |
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employees in state office complexes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 671.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 671.001. NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IN |
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STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) To reduce the cost of |
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health care and increase the wellness and productivity of state |
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employees, the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall develop |
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and implement a pilot program to make available a licensed advanced |
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practice nurse or a licensed physician assistant to provide |
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authorized on-site health services at a selected location to state |
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employees who choose to make use of the services. |
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(b) The pilot program must provide for the following: |
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(1) a licensed advanced practice nurse as defined by |
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Section 301.152, Occupations Code, or a licensed physician |
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assistant as described by Chapter 204, Occupations Code, who is |
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employed by the state or whose services are acquired by contract, |
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who will be located at a state office complex; |
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(2) a licensed physician, who is employed by a state |
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governmental entity for purposes other than the pilot program or |
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whose services are acquired by contract, who will perform all |
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supervisory functions described by Section 157.052(e), Occupations |
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Code; |
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(3) appropriate office space and equipment for the |
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advanced practice nurse or physician assistant to provide basic |
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medical care to employees at the state office complex where the |
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nurse or physician assistant is located; and |
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(4) professional liability insurance covering |
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services provided by the advanced practice nurse or the physician |
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assistant. |
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(c) The board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System |
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of Texas shall adopt rules necessary for implementation of this |
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section and shall seek the assistance of state agencies as |
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necessary for the implementation of this chapter. |
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(d) The Employees Retirement System of Texas shall |
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determine whether it is more efficient to pay directly for some or |
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all of the expenses associated with implementing this chapter or to |
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reimburse expenses through an interagency agreement as the expenses |
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are incurred by an agency participating in the program. |
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(e) The Employees Retirement System of Texas may order the |
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pilot program continued or expanded to cover more state office |
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complexes on finding: |
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(1) the pilot program has proven beneficial in meeting |
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the health care needs of state employees; and |
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(2) continuation or expansion of the pilot program is |
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economically beneficial. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effect of this Act, |
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the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas |
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shall adopt rules as required by Section 671.001, Government Code, |
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as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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