BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1564

By: West

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that a limited number of physicians are authorized to prescribe medication‑assisted treatments for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, and that in Texas less than 40 percent of individuals who suffer from such a disorder have access to a provider who can prescribe buprenorphine. Recently enacted federal legislation directs funding to federal and state agencies to increase access to treatment for addiction and supports interventions to help mitigate the opioid crisis. Under federal law, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives have the authority to prescribe buprenorphine. S.B. 1564 seeks to better align the state's Medicaid policy with federal law by providing Medicaid medical benefits reimbursement for the prescribing of buprenorphine by certain advanced practice registered nurses.

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

S.B. 1564 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than November 1, 2019, to amend the HHSC Medicaid substance use disorder services medical policy and any other provider or claims payment policy or manual necessary to authorize Medicaid medical benefits reimbursement for the prescribing of buprenorphine for the treatment of an opioid use disorder by an advanced practice registered nurse recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife, provided that the advanced practice registered nurse is a qualifying practitioner as defined by federal law, and has obtained a waiver from registration requirements as provided by federal law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.