BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2250

By: Lucio III

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, physicians are authorized to delegate the prescribing and ordering of certain controlled substances to advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants only under certain circumstances. H.B. 2250 seeks to improve the continuum of care by removing the limitation on a physician's authority to delegate the prescribing and ordering of a controlled substance listed in Schedule II under the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

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

H.B. 2250 repeals Section 157.0511(b-1), Occupations Code, which limits a physician's authority to delegate the prescribing and ordering of a controlled substance listed in Schedule II under the Texas Controlled Substances Act to doing so in a hospital facility-based practice as part of the care provided to certain hospital patients or doing so as part of the plan of care for the treatment of a person with a terminal illness who is receiving hospice treatment.

H.B. 2250 amends the Occupations Code to make conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.