CHAPTER 671. HEALTH SERVICES IN STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES - Texas Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 6. PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

SUBTITLE B. STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

CHAPTER 671. HEALTH SERVICES IN STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES

Sec. 671.001. NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IN STATE

OFFICE COMPLEXES; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) To reduce the cost of

health care and increase the wellness and productivity of state

employees, the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall develop

and implement a pilot program to make available a licensed

advanced practice nurse or a licensed physician assistant to

provide authorized on-site health services at a selected location

to state employees who choose to make use of the services.

(b) The pilot program must provide for the following:

(1) a licensed advanced practice nurse as defined by Section

301.152, Occupations Code, or a licensed physician assistant as

described by Chapter 204, Occupations Code, who is employed by

the state or whose services are acquired by contract, who will be

located at a state office complex;

(2) a licensed physician, who is employed by a state

governmental entity for purposes other than the pilot program or

whose services are acquired by contract, who will perform all

supervisory functions described by Section 157.052(e),

Occupations Code;

(3) appropriate office space and equipment for the advanced

practice nurse or physician assistant to provide basic medical

care to employees at the state office complex where the nurse or

physician assistant is located; and

(4) professional liability insurance covering services provided

by the advanced practice nurse or the physician assistant.

(c) The board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of

Texas shall adopt rules necessary for implementation of this

section and shall seek the assistance of state agencies as

necessary for the implementation of this chapter.

(d) The Employees Retirement System of Texas shall determine

whether it is more efficient to pay directly for some or all of

the expenses associated with implementing this chapter or to

reimburse expenses through an interagency agreement as the

expenses are incurred by an agency participating in the program.

(e) The Employees Retirement System of Texas may order the pilot

program continued or expanded to cover more state office

complexes on finding:

(1) the pilot program has proven beneficial in meeting the

health care needs of state employees; and

(2) continuation or expansion of the pilot program is

economically beneficial.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1217, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

433, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.