Tex. Insurance Code § 1451.001: DEFINITIONS; HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS.

In this chapter:

(1) "Acupuncturist" means an individual licensed to practice acupuncture by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.

(2) "Advanced practice nurse" means an individual licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing as a registered nurse and recognized by that board as an advanced practice nurse.

(3) "Audiologist" means an individual licensed to practice audiology by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(4) "Chemical dependency counselor" means an individual licensed by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

(5) "Chiropractor" means an individual licensed by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

(6) "Dentist" means an individual licensed to practice dentistry by the State Board of Dental Examiners.

(7) "Dietitian" means an individual licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 701, Occupations Code.

(8) "Hearing instrument fitter and dispenser" means an individual licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 402, Occupations Code.

(9) "Licensed clinical social worker" means an individual licensed as a clinical social worker under Chapter 505, Occupations Code.

(10) "Licensed professional counselor" means an individual licensed under Chapter 503, Occupations Code.

(11) "Marriage and family therapist" means an individual licensed under Chapter 502, Occupations Code.

(12) "Occupational therapist" means an individual licensed as an occupational therapist by the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.

(13) "Optometrist" means an individual licensed to practice optometry by the Texas Optometry Board.

(13-a) "Pharmacist" means an individual licensed to practice pharmacy by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

(14) "Physical therapist" means an individual licensed as a physical therapist by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

(15) "Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The term includes a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

(16) "Physician assistant" means an individual licensed by the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners.

(16-a) "Physician graduate" has the meaning assigned by Section 155.201, Occupations Code.

(17) "Podiatrist" means an individual licensed to practice podiatry by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(18) "Psychological associate" means an individual licensed as a psychological associate by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

(19) "Psychologist" means an individual licensed as a psychologist by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

(20) "Speech-language pathologist" means an individual licensed to practice speech-language pathology by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(21) "Surgical assistant" means an individual licensed as a surgical assistant by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1, 2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 11.041(a), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 889 (H.B. 2426), Sec. 71, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 10.002, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 281 (H.B. 1757), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 19.015, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 1501), Sec. 3.006, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 733 (H.B. 2038), Sec. 3.002, eff. September 1, 2025.