After significant reorganization to the Texas Medical Board’s (TMB’s) rules, including some consolidation, the Texas Medical Association is working with the agency to make physician requirements clear.
The agency’s recent revisions streamlined the rules from 40 to 25 chapters to make the guidelines more concise, according to Sherif Zaafran, MD, TMB president and a member of TMA’s Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association.
“I understand there was a lot of concern because it appeared language that mandated certain rules disappeared,” the Houston anesthesiologist said. “What I’ve tried to explain to everybody is things didn’t disappear. They may have been removed if they were redundant.”
In the comment period for the revision, TMA recommended retaining such language, rather than referring physicians to the underlying statutes, or in some cases, other agency rules. As TMB did not implement this recommendation, physicians familiar with the previous version may face challenges navigating the new layout.
TMB recently published a rule review organization document: a cross reference between the old and new rules.
For example, information on physician licensure, once distributed across seven different chapters, is now housed in Chapter 161. This includes mandated CME requirements.
Dr. Zaafran explained the rationale for the changes in a letter in its February bulletin, and is considering publishing FAQs to answer concerns springing from the newly streamlined language after the conclusion of this year’s Texas legislative session.
“This continues to be a work in progress, so we will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that we continue to provide the best framework,” he said.
While physicians can address TMB directly via its customer service email, Dr. Zaafran also offers to work with TMA physicians wishing to clarify changes, as he has done recently with emergency medical services directors on FAQ content.
TMA’s Knowledge Center and Education Development teams are currently compiling a list of TMB-related calls staff members are receiving.
Contact the Knowledge Center for any questions about practicing medicine in Texas.
Last Updated On
February 26, 2025
Originally Published On
February 26, 2025
Phil West
Associate Editor
(512) 370-1394
phil.west[at]texmed[dot]org
Phil West is a writer and editor whose publications include the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Austin American-Statesman, and San Antonio Express-News. He earned a BA in journalism from the University of Washington and an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin’s James A. Michener Center for Writers. He lives in Austin with his wife, children, and a trio of free-spirited dogs.