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 TSGE Legislative Update - March 2025

On Tuesday, March 4, the Texas Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy (TSGE) met with about a dozen legislative offices to discuss several importance issues:

1. Colorectal Cancer Treatment Initiative (SUPPORT) - TSGE has successfully advocated for a $10 million designated appropriation to support the Texas Colorectal Cancer Initiative for the next two years. The TCCI supports the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer among low-income Texans. 
2. Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program (OPPOSE) - HB 138 proposes the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program to evaluate legislation that imposes new requirements on state-regulated health plans. 

While HB 138 is promoted as a measure to increase transparency regarding the financial impact of new mandates on health plans, concentrating solely on cost without considering the benefits to patients or the long-term savings associated with preventative care could undervalue essential health benefits threatens to undermine efforts to improve patient care. If enacted, health plans could utilize this program to delay and ultimately block any future attempts to reform coverage, network adequacy, prior authorization, or utilization review (essentially anything the health plans oppose). \

Scope of Practice Expansion (OPPOSE) - A number of scope expansion bills have already been filed in the 89th Texas Legislature. Among the most notable is SB 911, which expands the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. The bill aims to grant these practitioners with the authority to practice and prescribe independently, without physician supervision, after they complete 3,000 hours of clinical experience within a five-year period. Additionally, the bill seeks to enhance the prescribing authority of APRNs, enabling them to prescribe and order medications, including controlled substances. 

We discussed the legislation with several offices during TSGE advocacy day, arguing that such expansions could compromise patient safety since APRNs do not possess the same depth of knowledge and training as physicians.