The Healthcare Expanded and Accessed Locally for Texans (HEAL Texans) Act seeks to enhance the licensing and regulation of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Texas by expanding their scope of practice and allowing for independent practice under specific conditions. The bill introduces a new definition of "advanced practice registered nurse," which includes nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. It allows APRNs to prescribe and order drugs, including controlled substances, under certain conditions, and mandates a minimum of 48 hours of continuing education every two years, focusing on pharmacology. The bill also clarifies that APRNs practicing under this authority are not considered to be practicing medicine without a license.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing laws to increase the maximum number of APRNs and physician assistants (PAs) with whom a physician can enter into a prescriptive authority agreement, raising the limit from seven to nine. It establishes a Joint Independent Practice Committee to oversee credentialing for APRNs seeking full independent practice authority and ensures that health maintenance organizations recognize APRNs and PAs as providers in their networks. The bill also includes provisions for APRNs to dispense dangerous drugs in areas without pharmacies and updates definitions related to orthotics and prosthetics to include APRNs as authorized practitioners. The Texas Board of Nursing is mandated to adopt necessary rules by February 1, 2026, to implement these changes, with the bill set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 301.002, Occupations Code 301.005, Occupations Code 301.152, Occupations Code 301.303, Education Code 38.151, Education Code 38.21l, Education Code 38.225, Education Code 61.601, Estates Code 502.002, Government Code 301.002, Health and Safety Code 161.0052, Health and Safety Code 401.504, Health and Safety Code 481.002, Health and Safety Code 481.074, 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 301.358, 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 1452.051, Labor Code 408.025, Occupations Code 157.051, Occupations Code 203.002, Occupations Code 551.003, Occupations Code 157.0511, Occupations Code 563.053, Occupations Code 605.002, Occupations Code 605.2515, Occupations Code 1701.703 (Occupations Code 563, Occupations Code 203, Occupations Code 605, Occupations Code 551, Human Resources Code 42, Health and Safety Code 161, Health and Safety Code 481, Insurance Code 843, Education Code 38, Estates Code 502, Education Code 61, Government Code 301, Health and Safety Code 401, Occupations Code 1701, Occupations Code 157, Health and Safety Code 483, Human Resources Code 32, Health and Safety Code 301, Occupations Code 301, Labor Code 408, Health and Safety Code 773, Insurance Code 1452)