Patients who seek treatment at freestanding emergency rooms in Texas would gain new safeguards from surprise medical bills, under a measure filed today in the Legislature that’s supported by AARP Texas.
Staffing shortages and staff turnover rates in Texas nursing homes continue to exceed national averages on several measures, prompting the need for action in the next legislative session to ease the ongoing crisis in care of older and vulnerable Texans.
With thousands of Texans getting hit by surprise medical bills, eight organizations representing consumers, businesses, and health insurers have joined forces in support of legislative action to protect patients from unexpected and excessive health care costs.
Texas requires Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to have a financial relationship with an overseeing doctor before they can treat patients. For consumers, the result of this unnecessary requirement is a restriction on access to primary care.