URGENT TIMELY Announcement! Protect NP's from regulatory overreach of the Texas Medical Board.

Last weekend, the Texas legislature passed SB 268, a TNP priority bill that requires all licensing boards to refer complaints on health care practitioners to the appropriate board of licensure. For example, if a complaint on a nurse practitioner were sent to the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Medical Board would be required by law to send the complaint to the Texas Board of Nursing.

 

This bill protects TNP members against the regulatory overreach of the Texas Medical Board, who has repeatedly initiated investigations into nurse practitioners based on frivolous, meritless complaints like “impersonating a physician” or “unlicensed practice of medicine.”

 

The bill passed the Texas legislature, despite strong physician opposition. On June 3, it made it to the Governor’s desk. He has 20 days to sign the bill, veto it, or allow the bill to become a law without his signature.  

 

Today, our lobby team visited with the top advisors and senior staff of the Governor to recommend that he allow this bill to become law. During that meeting, they learned that the Texas Medical Association has made this bill their # 1 priority to kill and has been inundating the Governor’s office with physician calls and emails asking him to veto the bill. 

 

Texas NPs need to make their voice heard.

 

Please do these two things within the next 24 hours (time is of the essence)!:

 

1. Send a letter to the Governor through TNP’s Action Center:

https://www.votervoice.net/TNP/Campaigns/127610/Respond

 

1. Call the Governor’s office between the hours of 8 am and 5pm, and share the following message (please personalize!): (512) 463-2000

 

I’m __, from___, Texas. As a nurse practitioner in the State of Texas and a concerned citizen, I respectfully ask that Governor Abbott sign SB 268 into law. SB 268 ensures health practitioners are disciplined by boards with appropriate expertise and jurisdiction, protects against regulatory overreach, and prevents duplicative, costly board investigations.  It’s a strong, bipartisan support bill that will provide clear and consistent regulations for health care practitioners across Texas. Thank you for your time and your service to Texans, and for the Governor’s support of nurses and patients!

 

In these situations, volume matters. Please take action and share the link on social media with your friends and colleagues!