Texas Medical Board ("TMB") Adopts Rules Concerning, Among Other Things, Temporary Licenses

On March 6, 2009, TMB published adopted rules in the Texas Register (34 Tex. Reg. 1589) concerning, among other things, temporary licenses.  The adopted rule updates the TMB rule requiring the holder of a temporary license to show that the person has taken an examination within the last ten years.  Highlights of other adopted rules include:

• An amendment providing for the supervision of a medical student who is not enrolled at a Texas medical school as a full-time student or visiting student;
• Deletion of a provision that recognizes an inactive status of a physician-in-training permit.  TMB considers a postgraduate training permit to be terminated if the holder of the permit is not engaged in the program of postgraduate training;
• An amendment to application and penalty fees for surgical assistants and physician assistants;
• Defines an “unrestricted medical license” in the context of a supervising physician; and
• Adds chart monitoring to the definition of a monitoring physician.

Additionally, TMB withdrew a proposed amendment relating to faculty temporary licenses, which was published in the January 9, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 Tex. Reg. 168).