The bill, S.B. No. 1487, aims to enhance the role of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) within health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider benefit plans in Texas. It introduces new provisions in the Insurance Code that allow HMOs to contract directly with APRNs to provide healthcare services, irrespective of whether the supervising physician is affiliated with the HMO. Additionally, insurers offering preferred provider plans can designate APRNs as preferred providers, again without regard to the status of the supervising physician.

The bill includes specific language to clarify that these provisions do not grant HMOs or insurers the authority to supervise or control the practice of medicine, which remains prohibited under existing law. The new sections added to the Insurance Code are Section 843.3125 and Section 1301.0525, which outline the conditions under which APRNs can be recognized as providers. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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