Health care
BY SARAH HERNANDEZ
Out-of-state health care workers could practice in Texas
Some health care ocials in Texas are advocat- ing to allow certain professionals to practice in other states without another license. According to advocates, these interstate agree- ments, or compacts, could reduce administrative burdens and improve access to health care. One of the compacts, the PA Licensure Compact, was recently passed by the Texas House of Repre- sentatives to help address a shortage of primary care physicians projected by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Zooming in Under the Interstate Compact Coalition’s plan, Texas would join compacts for nine professions: audiology and speech pathology, cosmetology, occupational therapy, counseling, dentistry, dietetics, respiratory care, social work, and physician assistants. Texas workers could provide care out of the state, and out-of-state workers could practice here. Texas is currently a member of 38 agreements, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Com- pact and Nurse Licensure Compact. As of May 5, the PA Licensure Compact, House Bill 1731, has been referred to the Texas Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee. Leticia Bland, director at large for the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, said the compact could reduce barriers for PAs when it comes to getting a new license. For PAs who have to travel or relocate, like military families, Bland said the process of being able to start a new job can be time-consuming. Bland said the compact’s ultimate outcome would be increasing quality health care access and
Supply and demand of primary care physicians in Central Texas
According to Texas DSHS, the increase in demand is due to the state’s aging and growing population.
FTEs*
Demand
Supply
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
2036
*FTE STANDS FOR FULL TIME EQUIVALENT AND EQUALS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE WORK HOURS TOTAL 40.
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT
maintaining a “continuity of care” for patients, especially primary care patients in rural areas or with language barriers. The compact will not expand the “scope of practice” of a physician-led team or change the supervision requirements for Texas PAs, she said. By the numbers The Texas Department of State Health Services projects a shortage of physicians to worsen through 2036. Specically, the demand for pri- mary care physicians in Central Texas will exceed its supply. According to Texas DSHS, the increase in demand is due to the state’s aging and growing
population. Demand is the number of workers required to provide a certain level of service to the patient. Despite the shortage of providers, the PA work- force is expected to grow 67% by 2036 from 2022. According to the Bureau of Health Workforce, PAs may help ease some of the hardships felt by the primary care physician shortage. Bland said the PA Licensure Compact can help strengthen the physician-PA teams that work together to ensure patients have access to the quality care they need, wherever they are. “Our primary focus is the people. It’s the community,” Bland said.
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