In truth, the newsletter never went away, they just stopped mailing out to save money.  It still publishes it on the Board’s website, if you know where to look.  That may soon change.

The TMB only sends out newsletter by email to a list that is kept manually.  The Board staff is looking into capturing emails during licensure process for new licensees.  It is also looking at putting a button on website in order to opt-in to the newsletter.  The Board currently asks on renewal if licensees would like to receive the newsletter.  Maybe 15% of licensees have opted not to receive emails.

New §185.27, relating to Duty to Report Certain Conduct to the Board, sets out requirements for physician assistants to report certain events to the PA Board within 30 days of their occurrence.
Rule 185.27 requires reporting within 30 days of:
A) address change,
B) incarceration in a state or federal penitentiary,
C) Any activity concerning a felony offense,
D) Misdemeanors relating to
a. PA responsibilities,
b. morale turpitude,
c. assaultive offenses (except fine only offenses),
d. registering as a sex offender,
e. violating a protective order, including offenses involving bias or prejudice.
f. Being found guilty of offenses involving
i. controlled substances & dangerous drugs
ii. inhalant paraphernalia
iii. guilty of felony under Drug Abuse Prevention & Control Act

If you support or oppose this rule change, you may voice your opinion to the Board as these rules currently are in its comment period.

 (1) The mid-level providers can obtain there own certification with the DEA and DPS.  Their individual certification number must appear on their prescription pad and they are required to have a supervisor relationship with a licensed physician.  This person is viewed as a “sponsor.”

 (2) There must be a standing protocol for the mid-level provider to prescribe using the physician’s prescription pad for the listed symptoms and only prescribe medications that are listed in the protocol for the symptoms. 

 The parties meet to discuss creating a field on the Texas Medical Board’s Physician Profile that will list all of the mid-level providers under the physician’s sponsorship who have prescriptive authority.

 The Texas Medical Board’s Standing Delegation Committee voted to create a sub-committee with the Physician Assistant Board and the Nursing Board to look into the guidelines for supervising physicians over PA’s and APN’s who have prescriptive authority under the physician’s supervision.   Their goal is to have everyone on the same page as to what the rules are and the risks involved in prescriptive delegation.

 My Take: First, physicians and mid-levels need to be sure they are in full compliance with current level and the correct paper work is in the Board denoting the supervisor relationship.  Second, look for the rules to be changed in the future.  If you have three boards get together, I can assure you the rules will change.  Given the current regulatory climate, I suspect that rules will tighten-up.  I just hope that before the Boards publish any rule changes, they talk and meet with “stake holders” in this area as any changes to mid-level prescriptive authority will have significant affect over thousands of providers.  Please continue to monitor this blog for changes.