Here are some highlights. View the full update here. 

Texas Physicians and Physician Assistants, the emergency rule related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster has been renewed for 60 days.

The emergency rule continues to allow for telephone refill of certain prescriptions to established chronic pain patients as long as the patient has been seen by the prescribing physician, or health professional defined under Chapter 111.001(1) of the Texas Occupations Code, in the last 90 days either in-person or via telemedicine using audio and video two-way communication.

The emergency rule will remain in place for 60 days (until May 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.) or for the duration of the time period that the Governor’s disaster declaration of March 13, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect, whichever is shorter, pursuant to Section 2001.034 of the Texas Government Code.

TMB will continue to provide any updates on COVID-19 issues on the TMB website at www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/coronavirus.

ALERT Reminder –

Scams Targeting Health Professionals

We remind licensees to be on the alert for scammers impersonating the Texas Medical Board and other state and federal agencies.

 In some instances scam callers may claim to be employees with the TMB, DEA, FBI or other law enforcement entity and may even attempt to spoof agency phone numbers or send documents on official-looking letterhead demanding money. 

At its December 4, 2020 meeting, the Texas Medical Board adopts rule changes. Specifically: 

CHAPTER 170. PRESCRIPTIONS OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES New Subchapter D, and new §170.10, entitled Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances, sets forth requirements and exceptions related to controlled substance e-prescribing. Further, the rule sets forth the process and circumstances in which a physician may obtain a waiver from controlled substance e-prescribing requirements, in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code §481.0756, as set forth by H.B. 2174 (86th Leg. (2019)). 

New §170.10 rule found here! 

September 6, 2019 marked another successful year of partnership between Texas Pain Society & Texas Society of Anesthesiologist!

Each year TPS presents a 3 hour parallel session regarding pain medicine during the TSA Annual Conference.

This year we had Drs. Max Eckmann, C.M. Schade and Dhanalakshmi Koyyalagunta, MD representing TPS and an interactive crowd that was very engaged in the current standards and best practices for treating chronic pain patients. 

Texas Medical Association
By Joey Berlin
September 12, 2019

The state attorney general has agreed with the Texas Medical Association in an official opinion that keeps certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) from administering anesthesia without physician delegation. 

In the opinion, Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed three questions from Sherif Zaafran, MD, president of the Texas Medical Board (TMB): 

Texas Pain Society Attends Texas Medical Board Stakeholder Meeting 06/04/2019

                                                                           Left to Right: C.M. Schade, MD, PhD, Larry Driver, MD, Richard Hurley, MD

 Many thanks to TPS Past Presidents Drs. Larry Driver, Richard Hurley and C.M. Schade for spending a day in Austin to be a part of the Texas Medical Board (TMB) Enforcement Stakeholder Group Meeting. 

Texas Pain Society has been a long-time stakeholder with the TMB and works year-round to provide input on rules that affect our members ability to provide care for pain patients in Texas. 

TexMed 2019 - Texas Pain Society - Pain Lectures Success!

Many thanks to Drs. Tim Zoys & C.M. Schade for co-chairing the 2019 Texas Pain Society Program! Thank you to our amazing speakers for their time and energy and expertise to educate attendees about the most current standards for pain management. Each year this program continues to grow and attract more and more attendees, this year was another full room with over 140 attendees! 

Primary Care Pain Medicine: State-of-the-Art 2019 
Presented by Brian Bruel, MD, Director, Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Attend the Texas Pain Society Lectures During TexMed 2019

Date: Friday, May 17, 2019
Location: Hilton Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas - West Wing, Coronado A
Time: 7:3oam - 11:30am

Pain Medicine Program Agenda

7:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions

7:30 AM: (ETHICS) Primary Care Pain Medicine: State-of-the-Art 2019 
Presented by Brian Bruel, MD, Director, Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

8:00 AM: (ETHICS) Texas Medical Board Updates & Top 50 Pitfalls 
Presented by Sherif Zafraan, MD, President, Texas Medical Board, Houston