The HEAL Texans Act aims to enhance the licensing and authority of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Texas by redefining their roles and expanding their prescriptive authority. The bill introduces new definitions for APRNs, clarifying their ability to prescribe medications, including controlled substances, and establishes them as licensed independent practitioners accountable to patients. Key amendments include a framework for the board to authorize APRNs to prescribe medications, the requirement for specialized education and training, and a system for issuing prescription authorization numbers. The bill also modifies existing prescriptive authority agreements, ensuring that APRNs are recognized as capable of providing comprehensive care without being classified as practicing medicine without a license.

Additionally, the bill amends various codes to ensure that APRNs and physician assistants (PAs) are treated equally to primary care physicians in terms of their roles and responsibilities within the healthcare system. It expands their authority to prescribe durable medical equipment and supplies, and allows them to prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors for specific entities. The act also clarifies the definitions and roles of APRNs and PAs, ensuring their inclusion in medical assistance provider directories and as preferred providers by health maintenance organizations. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with a provision allowing current APRNs with delegated authority to continue exercising their prescribing powers until February 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 301.002, Occupations Code 301.005, Occupations Code 301.354, Occupations Code 157.051, Occupations Code 157.0512, Occupations Code 157.0513, Occupations Code 157.054, Occupations Code 157.055, Occupations Code 157.056, Occupations Code 157.059, Occupations Code 157.060, Education Code 38.151, Education Code 38.211, Education Code 61.601, Estates Code 502.002, Family Code 263.001, Family Code 266.001, Government Code 671.001, Health and Safety Code 47.001, Health and Safety Code 47.011, Health and Safety Code 301.152, Health and Safety Code 241.003, Health and Safety Code 481.002, Health and Safety Code 157.0511, Health and Safety Code 481.076, Health and Safety Code 481.0767, Health and Safety Code 483.001, Health and Safety Code 483.022, Health and Safety Code 483.042, Health and Safety Code 773.0145, Human Resources Code 32.024, Human Resources Code 32.03141, Human Resources Code 42.067, Insurance Code 843.312, Insurance Code 1301.052, Insurance Code 1451.001, Insurance Code 1451.104, Insurance Code 1451.106, Insurance Code 1452.051, Labor Code 408.025, Occupations Code 203.002, Occupations Code 204.1025, Occupations Code 157.0511, Occupations Code 605.002, Occupations Code 605.2515, Occupations Code 1701.703, Transportation Code 681.003 (Human Resources Code 42, Insurance Code 1451, Human Resources Code 32, Family Code 266, Health and Safety Code 481, Health and Safety Code 301, Occupations Code 301, Family Code 263, Occupations Code 203, Health and Safety Code 773, Government Code 671, Occupations Code 605, Health and Safety Code 47, Health and Safety Code 483, Occupations Code 204, Insurance Code 1301, Education Code 61, Insurance Code 843, Transportation Code 681, Health and Safety Code 241, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 38, Estates Code 502, Health and Safety Code 157, Labor Code 408, Insurance Code 1452, Occupations Code 157)