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 Updated: 12/8/2004 |
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Mr/Madam Chair, Honorable Sunset Commission members and staff, I am Linda Contreras President of the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony today. For thirty years TAPA has represented the Physician Assistant profession in Texas. The PA profession has grown significantly over the past 10 years with approximately 3500 PA's in practice in Texas and seven PA programs training PA students in Texas. We are proud of the positive impact we have had on access and delivery of health care in Texas and look forward to our contributions of the future. The PA profession is a strong advocate of the team concept of health care delivery and for your reference has provided you a copy of the TAPA position paper that advocates the Physician-Physician Assistant Team Concept.
We would like to state at this time that TAPA finds the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners to be an aggressive advocate for the health and safety of all Texans. The TSBPAE has maintained and regulated a strong and appropriate definition of the Physician Assistant. Over the past 10 years the appointed members and staff of the board has consistently strived to meet its statutory obligation to the people of Texas and we believe it has done so. We strongly support the commission staff's recommendation that the board remain a free-standing regulatory board for the Physician Assistant profession.
I would like to thank the commission staff for their fine work in preparing their reports. The recommendations of the staff truly reflect the unique and integral role PA's provide in health care delivery and we support their recommendations. These recommendations will assist the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners in its mission to protect the interest for the safety and welfare of all Texans and provide the best service possible.
We would at this time like to comment on a few of the recommendations of the staff. TAPA agrees with the importance of stakeholder involvement in issues involving the Physician-PA team. Because of the distinctive nature of the Physician-PA team, it is critical that the TSBPAE and TSBME consult those resources such as TAPA that are most intimate with this team relationship. TAPA has always stood at the ready to assist both boards in their data-gathering and decision-making process and has been involved on many occasions. But we feel the stakeholder concept should not just be limited to the TSBPAE or TSBME but should also include other boards that create rules affecting the Physician-PA team such as the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. We request this commission support expanding this recommendation to any regulatory agency that involves the Physician-PA team.
In the same framework, because the TSBME often considers rules affecting the Physician-PA team, we feel it is critical to include those most knowledgeable about the Physician-PA team relationship when considering these actions. TAPA believes the most accessible and knowledgeable individuals are those currently involved in the rule-making process. We feel those individuals most accessible to the board are the physician and PA members sitting on the TSBPAE. TAPA requests this commission support that one physician member and one PA member of the TSBPAE be assigned to the TSBME when it considering rules, prescription delegation waiver requests, or any issue affecting the Physician-PA team. In addition, because of the growth of the Physician-PA team in Texas we also feel it is important the TSBME reflect this growth and relationship. TAPA requests the commission support that at least two physician members of the TSBME be physicians that supervise Physician Assistants.
Without disagreement, the TSBPAE and TSBME have a great deal of responsibility in regulating PA's and physicians. One of these responsibilities is in decision making on mental and physical health disorders in providers that could affect the safety of the public and of this individual. We support the staff's recommendations for clear and effective guidelines in the board's decision-making in these matters. But because of the potential stigma that could be placed on a good provider. It is not only important that the decision of the board protects the public but that it is also fair and just to the provider. The delicate and specialized nature of these disorders should include input from those knowledgeable about the treatment and outcomes of these disorders. We request this commission support the inclusion of experts in mental and physical medical disorders in assisting the board in development of their guidelines as well as make their input more prominent when considering each case.
TAPA supports the recommendation of the commission staff for statute that reflects clearly the continuing medical education requirements for relicensure as a PA in Texas. We also support sound and fair reporting requirements for ascertaining the PA having successfully met these requirements. Currently the board utilizes a random auditing system to determine the effectiveness of CME reporting for PA's as well as physicians. This system works well for the protection of the public and is fair. TAPA does not agree a more comprehensive reporting requirement is needed at this time and any change would certainly have a fiscal impact to the board.
Chairman Solomans and members of the commission, TAPA shares the boards desire for effective and efficient regulatory agencies that protect the welfare of Texans. We thank you for your work in making that happen. We affirm that TAPA will assist the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners as well as the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners in any way it can. We also extend our services to this commission and its staff on any issues involving the PA profession any time it is needed. Thank you.
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Sunset Testimony 