Honorable Four Price, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2548 by Zerwas (Relating to the prescribing and ordering of Schedule II controlled substances by certain physician assistants.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Occupations Code relating to the prescribing and ordering of Schedule II controlled substances by certain physician assistants. The bill would provide authority for a physician to delegate to a physician assistant the prescribing or ordering of a Schedule II controlled substance at the practice site.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
According to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), there would a one-time technology cost for systems modifications to implement the provisions of the bill. It is assumed that cost can be absorbed within HHSC's existing resources. If the Texas Medical Board (TMB) interprets the provisions of the bill as allowing physician assistants to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances under delegation on an outpatient basis, there could be additional costs if there were an overall increase in prescriptions; however, it is assumed any increased costs would be offset by the lower reimbursement for physician assistants and avoidance of higher cost services.
Based on the analysis of TMB, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
503 Texas Medical Board, 515 Board of Pharmacy, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 578 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners