The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the body that regulates nursing licenses throughout the state. It focuses on making sure those who hold a nursing license meet the obligations outlined within the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) and is the organization in charge of...
Year: 2021
3 lessons from “referral” case for AKS violations
The term “referral” is not clearly defined within the Anti-Kickback Statue (AKS). This ambiguity can make it difficult when building relationships with other healthcare providers. A recent case provides a reminder for the need to tread carefully when making these...
Texas updates healthcare data breach reporting requirements
Texas lawmakers have stepped up how they are handling data breach reporting by amending its breach notification law. The following will discuss the breach notification law and point out how the amendment will broaden its application in the future. The amendment is set...
Is my practice ready for TX’s changing telemedicine rules?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and others who work within the healthcare profession to change the way they practice medicine. Throughout the pandemic, physicians were looking for a way to help their patients without putting them at...
Texas Medical Board disciplined 26 doctors at June meeting
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) disciplined 26 doctors last month. These disciplinary efforts included quality of care concerns, allegations of unprofessional conduct, and violation of previous orders. The quality of care concerns included a physician who completed a...
3 tips for nurses who are accused of misconduct
An allegation of misconduct can come from almost anyone including a patient, co-worker, administrator, or co-worker. If the individual reaches out to the state board of nursing, the nurse who is facing the allegations could find themselves at the center of an...
Texas needs more psychiatric hospitals
Texas has a shortage of facilities needed to meet residents’ psychiatric needs. The state has suffered from years of underfunding in this critical area of healthcare. As of March 2021, the state’s 10 public psychiatric hospitals reported a waitlist of almost 1,500...
What happens if I fall behind on my CME requirements?
State licensing boards require physicians and physician assistants to continue life-long learning within their field. This helps to better ensure that medical professionals provide the best medical care to their patients and better serve their communities. Although a...
Should hospital admin require workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Hospital administrators are not alone when thinking about using a policy that would require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially true at a time when the virus is evolving and appears to be more contagious than before. But such policies can come with...
Tips to better ensure a successful hospital M&A deal
Hospital merger and acquisition (M&A) deals continue to thrive through 2021. Just this month, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare announced the sale of five hospitals to Steward Health Care. Those with information on the deal expect the billion-dollar deal to close in...