Texas Medical Board Issues Proposed Rule Restricting Online Prescribing

The Texas Medical Board issued a new proposed rule requiring in-person or face-to-face examinations of patients prior to writing prescriptions. Written within the proposed rule are sanctions for unprofessional conduct that will be filed for any physician in violation should the proposed rule be enacted. This comes in response to a December 31, 2014 decision by the Texas Court of Appeals, vacating the Texas Medical Board’s disciplinary action against a provider issuing prescriptions via telephonic conversations.