Stories with related Professional Interests

Strengthen and Renew the Texas Medical Board - 03/13/2019

First, TMA and our physician members support a strong Board, a strong agency – but one that is fair and transparent. We believe this bill advances these principles for both the public and the profession. At the same time, we would favor the inclusion of three items we believe are consistent with the bill and provide some clarity.

TMA Backstops Surgeon in Defamation Case - 11/12/2018

Memorial Hermann Health System is appealing a 2017 judgment awarding a Houston cardiothoracic surgeon more than $6 million in a defamation case. The Texas Medical Association continues to support the surgeon by refuting part of the basis for the hospital’s appeal.

Keep Them From Harm and Injustice? - 10/01/2018

Fear remains a major barrier to transparency of hospital errors.

Is Your Board Certification Safe? - 06/19/2018

Even a minor disciplinary order could pose risks to your board certification. One Texas subspecialist in an underserved area lost his certification, without warning or a chance to argue his case, when the TMB cited him for some minor missteps.

TMB Names Former County Judge as Executive Director - 05/02/2018

The Texas Medical Board has named former Orange County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton as executive director effective April 23.

What Do You Really Think About MOC? - 04/24/2018

As Texas Medicine Today reported recently, leaders of the boards that run the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programs have created a commission – the “Vision Initiative” – to develop “a set of recommendations about the future of continuing board certification.” They want to hear from you. And you have until April 30 to share your deepest thoughts.

TMA, AMA: TMB Has Authority to Set Telemedicine Rules - 10/10/2016

In a 42-page brief jointly filed with a federal appeals court, TMA and the American Medical Association argue that federal antitrust regulation does not prevent the Texas Medical Board (TMB) from establishing rules that regulate the practice of telemedicine in Texas. At issue is a TMB rule that establishes the requirement that, as described in the brief, "Dangerous drugs and controlled substances … may not be prescribed by a physician who has not either physically examined a patient or examined a patient electronically with the assistance of a qualified medical professional who is physically present with the patient."

TMA Urges TMB to Withdraw Disciplinary Hearing Rules - 10/10/2016

TMA is not impressed with the Texas Medical Board's (TMB's) proposed new rules concerning informal show compliance proceedings and informal settlement conferences (ISCs). TMA tells TMB in a letter the association wants an overhaul of the ISC process to make it more fair and transparent. TMA's letter expresses strong opposition to the proposed rule and states "instead of allowing the process to become fairer and more transparent, the proposed rule makes ISCs more like a formal administrative hearing without the guaranteed accompanying protections."

TMA Opposes TMB Proposal to Revise Disciplinary Sanctions - 05/12/2016

In a letter to the Texas Medical Board (TMB), TMA outlined its concerns with the board's proposal to revise the standard disciplinary sanctions that apply to violations of the Medical Practice Act. Of particular concern to TMA is the board's proposal to increase the "High Sanction" penalty for a standard of care violation and more than one prior standard-of-care or care-related violation from $3,000 per violation to $7,000 per violation.

DPS Begins to Synch Controlled Substance Permit Renewals - 06/10/2015

Following a three-month delay, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports it is beginning to synchronize physicians' controlled substances registration expiration dates with their Texas Medical Board license expiration dates.