BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 189

By: Nelson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is concern that the law does not adequately address the shortage of health care professionals in certain parts of the state. S.B. 189 seeks to improve access to health care in Texas by requiring certain applicants for a Texas medical license to provide three years of service in a health professional shortage or medically underserved area.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Medical Board in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 189 amends the Occupations Code to require an applicant for a license to practice medicine who is not a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States to present proof satisfactory to the Texas Medical Board that the applicant has practiced medicine or has signed an agreement to practice medicine as a condition of the license for at least three years in an area in Texas that is designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Serves as a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area. The bill specifies that such a requirement does not prohibit the board from issuing a license to an applicant subject to the requirement who is applying for a license to practice medicine at a graduate medical training program in the state that is not in a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.

S.B. 189 requires the board, not later than May 1, 2012, to adopt rules and procedures to implement the bill's provisions, including rules to determine whether an applicant is complying with the agreement required as a condition of the license. The bill authorizes the board, by rule, to limit the license to practice medicine of an applicant subject to the bill's provisions to an area in Texas that is designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.