H.B. No. 3415 aims to strengthen the regulation of health professionals in Texas by addressing advertising and billing practices. The bill amends the heading of Subchapter E, Chapter 101 of the Occupations Code to focus on "Certain Practices Related to Advertising and Billing Prohibited," replacing the previous title concerning grounds for license revocation or denial. It introduces new definitions regarding false, misleading, or deceptive advertising, specifically prohibiting the misrepresentation of a health care professional's credentials, education, or licensing. Additionally, the bill mandates that advertising must include the professional identification required by Section 104.003 and establishes an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense.

The bill also introduces specific regulations for physician assistants and nurses, prohibiting them from using advertising that is false, misleading, or not readily verifiable. It clarifies the titles and abbreviations that licensed nurses may use, such as registered nurse (R.N.) and nurse practitioner (N.P.), and stipulates that nursing license holders cannot use the title "doctor" unless they also hold a license from the Texas Medical Board. Furthermore, it requires nurses to wear a clearly legible insignia identifying their professional designation while interacting with the public. The provisions of this bill will apply to conduct occurring on or after September 1, 2025, with prior conduct governed by existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 101.201, Occupations Code 104.003, Occupations Code 104.005, Occupations Code 165.156, Occupations Code 204.203, Occupations Code 301.351 (Occupations Code 165, Occupations Code 204, Occupations Code 101, Occupations Code 301, Occupations Code 104)
House Committee Report: Occupations Code 101.201, Occupations Code 104.003, Occupations Code 104.005, Occupations Code 165.156, Occupations Code 204.203, Occupations Code 301.351 (Occupations Code 165, Occupations Code 204, Occupations Code 101, Occupations Code 301, Occupations Code 104)