The bill, H.B. No. 3889, amends Section 157.0512 of the Occupations Code to clarify the conditions under which a physician can delegate the authority to prescribe or order controlled substances or dangerous drugs to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or physician assistant (PA). The amendment introduces a new subsection (a-1), which stipulates that a physician may not delegate this authority unless it is explicitly authorized under a prescriptive authority agreement. Furthermore, it specifies that the APRN or PA can only prescribe or order such substances for patients with whom the delegating physician has an established physician-patient relationship.

The bill emphasizes the importance of adequate physician supervision in the delegation process and aims to ensure that controlled substances are prescribed responsibly and within the context of a defined patient relationship. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 157.0512 (Occupations Code 157)