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 [...]
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 [...]
At the August 26th Disciplinary Process Review Committee, there was discussion on how to handle the “hole” that was discovered through one case in one physician transferring care to another physician in a referral situation or in the ER environment. The case discussed had an ER physician order a test. Then he went off shift [...]
There is a new test for alcohol use. It is longer lasting than Etg & Ets. It is a blood test where the finger is pricked and a small amount of blood is obtained. This is not a test in which a very small amount alcohol may not pick but, someone who had relapsed would [...]
Dr. Lloyd Garland, PHP Medical Director reported on August 26th that there have been less than 10 self- referrals to date. The majority of the cases have come from the TMB. Dr. Jackson opined this is because knowledge of the PHP is not well known as yet in the medical community.
Dr. Garland did discuss the [...]
At the August 25th meeting of the Standing Delegation Committee, there was an open discussion that it was the possession of the committee is that requests for waiver of the mid-level supervision rules filed appear, in the opinion of the committee, were being requested too often for the physician’s convenience with no benefit to the [...]
Last week the Texas Comptroller stated the next 2 year budget cycle is facing a 21 billion dollar deficit. With this knowledge the Board has been asked to submit budgets that were capped at the 2011 levels and a 5% cut. It has done so with the request that it will be asking for its [...]
At the Board’s last meeting, August 28, 2010, the Board issued the most disciplinary actions in a single meeting in its history – 187 doctors disciplined. The actions included 33 violations based on quality of care; eight actions based on unprofessional conduct; 11 actions based on inadequate medical records violations; 14 voluntary surrenders; five revocations/suspensions; [...]