At its October 2017 meeting the Texas Medical Board (TMB) struck the decades old 10 year rule stating that the rule impeded doctors from coming to Texas. Just for full disclosure G&M Consulting was opposed to this measure. What G&M proposed was a change to the rule making those physician who had been active members of hospital staffs exempt from the rule but requiring physicians who had not been under any formal peer review still have to comply with the rule. Only time will tell if the board’s decision was correct but in the meantime WELCOME to Texas all of you physicians who have not wished to re-up your boards or take the SPEX exam. Any questions – give us a call 888-400-1580.
Since the early 90’s physicians coming into Texas had to have been examined by some type of test in the 10 years prior to their application for licensure. The Texas Medical Board had instituted this measure when the state bean to see a very large increase in applicants flooding in from out of state. The board wanted to be sure that some how the medical knowledge of these incoming applicants was up to date. So, applicants had a choice between a national exam such as USMLE, FLEX, COMLEX or NBOME, or board certification or recertification. To some this rule has been a blockade of sorts to licensure.
During the 2017 Texas legislative session, Senator Buckingham, proposed that physicians not have to maintain board certification – interesting! As the bill began to move opposition to the bill reared its head by hospitals who as part of their credentialing did not wish to be dictated to by the legislature when it came to who would qualify for their staff memberships. But what about all the physicians who are not involved in formal peer review? So, the bill changed, but still some decided that the TMB needed to change its rules and so it did.
Again, only time will tell if there is impact at the initial licensure stage.