Thursday, March 25, 2021
Press Release: TAHP Supports HB 2029 to Improve Health Care Access
March 25, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN – The Texas Association of Health Plans supports House Bill 2029, which was heard yesterday in the House Public Health Committee. The bill, by Chair Stephanie Klick, will remove unnecessary and outdated mandates that are preventing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) from providing more health care access and options to Texas Patients.
“In Texas, millions of patients live in areas where access to primary health care is difficult to find,” said Jamie Dudensing, CEO of Texas Association of Health Plans. “It is crucial that we outlaw ‘pay to practice’ mandates and join 31 other states that have already done away with these anti-competitive regulations that keep us from recruiting and retaining highly qualified advanced practice nurses.”
California and Florida, two of Texas’ biggest competitors for talent and business, are among the 31 states that have done away with the requirement for APRNs to contract with physicians before they can practice. Advanced practice nursing is the only profession in Texas where independently licensed professionals are mandated to contract with a member of another profession in order to go into business.
A 2020 Texas Nurse Practitioners member survey found that more than 50% of nurse practitioners say delegation requirements prevented them from expanding or creating their own practice to care for more patients. Nearly 80% said they would consider practicing telehealth to patients outside of Texas in states that do not have such onerous regulations.
The companion bill to HB 2029 is SB 915 by Sen. Kelly Hancock, Chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.
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ABOUT TAHP
The Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP) is the statewide trade association representing health insurers, health maintenance organizations, and other related health care entities operating in Texas. Our members provide health and supplemental benefits to Texans through employer-sponsored coverage, the individual insurance market, and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
Alicia Pierce, apierce@tahp.org