BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2897

By: Davis, Sarah

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently enacted legislation aimed to help hospital patients understand the level of training for those providing direct patient care by requiring certain health care providers to wear a photo identification badge clearly stating the provider's name, department, and license type. C.S.H.B. 2897 seeks to further this goal.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 2897 amends the Health and Safety Code to prescribe the specific occupational designations required to be clearly stated on the photo identification badge of a health care provider who holds an applicable license or certificate and provides direct patient care at a hospital. The bill adds a temporary provision, set to expire September 1, 2018, establishing that a licensed hospital is not required to list the type of license held by a provider on a health care provider's photo identification badge until September 1, 2017.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2897 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 241.009, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c)  For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), the identification badge of a health care provider licensed under Title 3, Occupations Code, must clearly state: (1)  "physician," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle B of that title; (2)  "chiropractor," "podiatrist," "midwife," "physician assistant," "acupuncturist," or "surgical assistant," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle C of that title; (3)  "dentist" or "dental hygienist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle D of that title; (4)  "nurse," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle E of that title; (5)  "optometrist," or "therapeutic optometrist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle F of that title; (6)  "speech-language pathologist" or "audiologist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle G of that title; (7)  "physical therapist," "occupational therapist," or "massage therapist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle H of that title; (8)  "medical radiologic technologist," "medical physicist," "perfusionist," "respiratory care practitioner," "orthotist," or "prosthetist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license or certificate, as appropriate, under Subtitle K of that title; and (9)  "dietitian," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle M of that title.	SECTION 1.  Section 241.009, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: (c)  For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), the identification badge of a health care provider licensed under Title 3, Occupations Code, must clearly state: (1)  "physician," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle B of that title; (2)  "chiropractor," "podiatrist," "midwife," "physician assistant," "acupuncturist," or "surgical assistant," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle C of that title; (3)  "dentist" or "dental hygienist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle D of that title; (4)  "licensed vocational nurse," "registered nurse," "nurse practitioner," "nurse midwife," "nurse anesthetist," or "clinical nurse specialist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle E of that title; (5)  "optometrist," or "therapeutic optometrist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle F of that title; (6)  "speech-language pathologist" or "audiologist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle G of that title; (7)  "physical therapist," "occupational therapist," or "massage therapist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle H of that title; (8)  "medical radiologic technologist," "medical physicist," "perfusionist," "respiratory care practitioner," "orthotist," or "prosthetist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license or certificate, as appropriate, under Subtitle K of that title; and (9)  "dietitian," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle M of that title. (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(3), a hospital licensed under this chapter is not required to list the type of license held by a provider on a health care provider's photo identification badge until September 1, 2017.  This subsection expires September 1, 2018.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.