AUSTIN (BNN) - - Two pieces of legislation targeted at reforming the Texas Medical Board are moving forward and, if signed into law, might affect all Texas clients.
The Texas House overwhelmingly passed HB 1998 Friday, which was filed in direct response to a series of BNN investigations. After a vote of 124-13, the bill now heads to the Senate.
" BNN discovered a problem, brought it to my attention," said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch in March. I met with insurance policy holders. It's a point Johnson referenced in remarks to lawmakers.
" Current statute governing the Texas Medical Board is filled with loopholes that enables doctors licensed in Texas, especially those transferring in between hospitals, or moving into Texas from other states, to prevent disciplinary actions," Johnson told legislators. "When disciplinary actions are ignored, client security, and in some cases their lives, are endangered."
The expense would make it a criminal offense to rest on license applications. It would also prevent physicians who have actually had their licenses revoked somewhere else from practicing in Texas.
View beneath the Texas Capitol dome (BNN Photo/Matt Grant).
" BNN's investigative reporting has truly shined a very brilliant light on the issue and exposed problems within the Texas Medical Board," said Texas Watch executive director Ware Wendell, who credited our "Still Practicing" series as being "instrumental" in getting to this point at the Texas Capitol.
The nonpartisan, not-for-profit company has actually promoted on consumer issues, consisting of client security, for 25 years.
"Finding ... nearly 50 physicians who have actually had problems in other states but were practicing here in Texas and we're uninformed of that as members of the public. Because the Texas Medical Board wasn't doing their job.".
Johnson stated she teamed up with the TMB and the Texas Medical Association on her expense. It was amended to have the TMB charge doctors a fee to cover the cost of their continuous monitoring with the National Practitioner Data Bank, which costs $2.50 per medical professional annually.
BNN's microphone and cam seen at a Texas Senate hearing for SB 666 (BNN Photo/Chris Nelson).
The TMB does not constantly monitor doctors with the NPDB. If signed into law, it would permit the board to find out in practically real-time if a doctor has been disciplined elsewhere, is sued for medical malpractice, or dealing with criminal actions.
" This legislation is strong client security legislation that will close loopholes and help the Texas Medical Board do its job," stated Wendell. "Now, we require the Senate to step up and do their job for patients.".
Senate TMB bill also advances
BNN investigative press reporter affirms at a Texas Senate committee in April (Courtesy: Texas Senate Committee on Health & & Human Services).
On the Senate side, an expense presented by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Rockwall, likewise passed Friday and now advances to your house.
BNN investigative reporter Matt Grant affirmed in front of lawmakers, consisting of Hall, about the outcomes of our reporting.
Senate Bill 666, which is opposed by TMB leaders, would minimize "pointless" TMB investigations, Hall said. It was amended to require a panel of 5 physicians to examine doctor complaints after a preliminary decision is made that the grievance shows second-rate care.
Hall stated his bill was partially influenced by BNN's reporting, which discovered the TMB permitted medical professionals it considered to be a "risk to the public welfare" to keep practicing with limitations.
" This specific issue was originally exposed by some actually good investigative reporters from BNN," stated Hall throughout previous remarks made last month when he presented his bill. "We are very grateful to them for their findings.".
Comments
Leave a Reply