Gov. Rick Perry has named Tamela “Tammy” Gough of McKinney chair of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. The board oversees licensing and regulation of dental care providers in Texas and enforces Texas laws regulating the practice of dentistry.
Gough is a pediatric dentist [...]
On December 7th, the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and the Speaker of House sent a letter to all state agencies, including all the health licensing board, and directed them to cut 2.5% of their budget for rest of the 2011 Fiscal Year. The FY 2011 began on September 1st. The FY 2011 began with a [...]
According to public information on December 3, 2010, the Texas Physician Health Program, which also serves Physician Assistants and Acupuncturist, now has more than 100 people enrolled in its monitoring program.
The two big issues that are still unsettled is how to deal with licensees who agree to cease their practice altogether. The Medical Board and [...]
The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and allowed the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) to continue its lawsuit against the Texas Medical Board (the Board). The lower court had previously found that the AAPS lacked standing (ability of a party to demonstrate to the court connection to [...]
Electronic death certificate: Conversation on whether they should refund all the fines regarding this. The Vital Statistics system is difficult and it takes two weeks to get a password. For doctors who rarely have a patient die, this is a difficult system. Half of all doctors do not know that it is Texas law that [...]
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS REVEW COMMITTEE
Texas Physician Health Program. Dr. Garland introduced Dr. Alison– practicing psychiatrist – took over from Dr. Jackson . 316 total referrals including self referrals and by TMB. 184 active participants. 72 reported back to TMB. Talking to several about retiring their licenses. These will come under a short agreement to conclude an [...]
THIRD PARTY PAYOR FOR MEDCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Members: Michael Arambula, M.D. Chair, Julie Attebury, John D. Ellis, Jr., Roberta Kalfut, D.O.,
Melissa Tonn, M.D. (attending by phone)
Charged with looking at Thrid party payor for medical services and decide to submit any language changes to the Rules and if they adequately describe what is intended. These types [...]
Email addresses. Physicians required to provide phone, fax & email for emergency information notices. They ask on registration if physicians would like to receive email info. They had a 30% positive response. Wanted to reword to say: “ May we use your contact information for non-emergency situations such as the TMB Newsletter?” Dr. Arambula suggests: [...]
Professional Conduct – Prepaid Treatment Plans
NEW §80.13, relating to prepaid treatment plans, to establish guidelines for licensees offering patients prepaid treatment plans. The proposed new rule will protect the public by ensuring patients are fully aware of what is involved in the prepaid treatment plan and by allowing patients to cancel the plan with no [...]
The Texas Medical Board is meeting for the last time in 2010 on October 28th and 29th in Austin. The public agenda is not yet up. I will be sure to post the more interesting items once the Board makes it public. It is important that you voice your opinion to the Board, whether you [...]