This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2546

By: Zerwas

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that, although the workers' compensation system allows for the treatment of injured workers by a physician assistant, such an assistant is not currently authorized to complete and sign work status reports regarding an injured employee's ability to return to work. C.S.H.B. 2546 seeks to increase efficiency within the workers' compensation system by authorizing a licensed physician assistant to complete and sign such reports.

 

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. 2546 amends the Labor Code to authorize a treating doctor to delegate the authority to complete and sign a work status report regarding an injured employee's ability to return to work to a licensed physician assistant. The bill makes the delegating treating doctor responsible for the acts of the physician assistant under the bill's provisions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2546 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 408.025, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1)  A report that is required to be filed with the division or provided to the injured employee, the employee's attorney, or the insurance carrier by a treating physician may be completed and signed by a physician assistant who is licensed to practice in this state under Chapter 204, Occupations Code.

 

SECTION 1.  Section 408.025, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1)  A treating doctor may delegate to

 

 

 

a physician assistant who is licensed to practice in this state under Chapter 204, Occupations Code, the authority to complete and sign a work status report regarding an injured employee's ability to return to work.  The delegating treating doctor is responsible for the acts of the physician assistant under this subsection.

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.