BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1782

By: Davis, Sarah

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties assert that, as a result of the rapid increase in the number of professional and quasi-professional titles using the term "doctor," patients often are confused about the training and education of their health care practitioners. C.S.H.B. 1782 intends to provide clarity and transparency in the health care field by ensuring that patients and hospital staff are promptly and clearly informed of a health care practitioner's training and qualifications. 

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 1782 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a hospital to adopt a policy requiring a health care provider providing direct patient care to wear a photo identification badge during all patient encounters, unless precluded by adopted isolation or sterilization protocols.  The bill requires the badge to be of sufficient size, to be worn in a manner to be visible, and to clearly state at minimum the provider's first or last name, department of the hospital with which the provider is associated, the provider's title, as assigned by the hospital, and the provider's status as a student, intern, trainee, or resident, if applicable. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

January 1, 2014.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1782 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 112, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 112.  GENERAL LICENSING AND PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO MULTIPLE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS

 

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 2.  Chapter 112, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER C.  GENERAL PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS

 

Sec. 112.101.  PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BADGE REQUIRED. 

(a)  In this section, "health care practitioner" has the meaning assigned by Section 112.001 and includes a student, resident, or intern in a program leading to licensure as a practitioner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)  A health care practitioner shall wear a photo identification badge in a conspicuous manner during all patient encounters, unless precluded by adopted sterilization or isolation protocols.  The badge must be of sufficient size to be visible and must clearly state:

 

(1)  the practitioner's name;

 

(2)  the type of license held by the practitioner, if the practitioner holds a license under this title; and

 

 

 

 

 

(3)  the wearer's status as a student, resident, or intern if the practitioner does not hold a license under this title.

(c)  A person who violates this section shall be considered to be in violation of the law regulating the health care profession in which the person is engaged.

SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 241.009 to read as follows:

 

 

 

 

Sec. 241.009.  PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BADGE REQUIRED. 

 

 

 

 

(a)  In this section, "health care provider" means a person who provides health care services at a hospital:

(1)  as a physician;

(2)  as an employee of the hospital;

(3)  under a contract with the hospital; or

(4)  in the course of a training or educational program at the hospital.

(b)  A hospital shall adopt a policy requiring a health care provider providing direct patient care to wear a photo identification badge during all patient encounters unless precluded by adopted isolation or sterilization protocols.  The badge must be of sufficient size, be worn in a manner to be visible, and clearly state:

 

(1)  at minimum the provider's first or last name;

 

 

 

(2)  the department of the hospital with which the provider is associated;

(3)  the provider's title, as assigned by the hospital; and

(4)  if applicable, the provider's status as a student, intern, trainee, or resident.

SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.