TITLE 22.EXAMINING BOARDS

Part 3. TEXAS BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS

Chapter 73. LICENSES AND RENEWALS

22 TAC §73.2

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts an amendment to §73.2, relating to renewal of license, without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 6, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 10109). The text of the rule as amended will not be republished. A new subsection (b) is adopted that requires a locum tenens licensee, that is, a licensee who fills in for another licensee in his or her absence, to provide the name and registration number of each facility at which the licensee practices for the previous 12 months. The Chiropractic Act, Occupations Code, §§201.312, .351 and .354 require the board to license chiropractic facilities and individuals practicing chiropractic. This proposal provides necessary information to the board to enable it to cross reference facilities with chiropractors in order to verify that all facilities that provide chiropractic services are properly registered, and that licensees are practicing, even temporarily, only in licensed facilities. It is anticipated that this rule will help provide better enforcement of the Chiropractic Act's licensing requirements, thus, better ensuring the public that chiropractic treatment is provided only at properly licensed facilities. Other non-substantive, conforming changes to internal references to particular subsections have been made as well.

No comments were received concerning the proposed amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Occupations Code, §201.152, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules necessary for the performance of its duties, the regulation of the practice of chiropractic, and the enforcement of the Chiropractic Act, and §201.312, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules providing for the regulation of chiropractic facilities; and §201.351 and §201.354, that the board interprets as requiring the board to license individuals practicing chiropractic.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 18, 2001.

TRD-200100351

Gary K. Cain, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Effective date: February 7, 2001

Proposal publication date: October 6, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6709


22 TAC §73.3

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts and amendment to §73.3, relating to continuing education, without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 6, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 10110). The text of the rule as amended will not be republished. The amendment allows a licensee who serves as an examiner at the National Board Examination-Part IV to receive a maximum of two hours continuing education credit each year. A licensee who serves as an examiner devotes a considerable amount of time to this duty. As an examiner, a licensee observes and grades examinees who are performing procedures required of a chiropractor in a clinical setting. Serving as an examiner provides a licensee with a review of the core elements of the didactic and clinical science components of a chiropractic education. It is, therefore, appropriate to give limited continuing education credit for participating in the examination process.

No comments were received concerning the proposed amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Occupations Code, §201.152, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules necessary for the performance of its duties, the regulation of the practice of chiropractic, and the enforcement of the Chiropractic Act, and §201.356, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules prescribing continuing education requirements for licensees.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 18, 2001.

TRD-200100352

Gary K. Cain, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Effective date: February 7, 2001

Proposal publication date: October 6, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6709


Chapter 74. CHIROPRACTIC FACILITIES

22 TAC §§74.1 - 74.3, 74.5, 74.9

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts amendments to Chapter 74 (an amendment to §74.1 and new §§74.2, 74.3, 74.5 and 74.9), relating to chiropractic facilities, with changes to the proposed text as published in the November 17, 2000 issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 11369). The text of §§74.1, 74.2 and 74.5, which were the only sections with changes from the proposed version, will be republished. Changes in capitalization for consistency were made in §74.1(4); in grammar for clarity, in §74.2(b) and (g) and in (c)(3); and in text for clarity, in §74.5(a). The amendments revise the current structure of the board's facility regulatory program as provided in Chapter 74. With this adoption, Chapter 74 is divided into five sections, one section for definitions (§74.1), and the others, covering the process for applying for a facility license (§74.2), renewal (§74.3), including the imposition of late fees, rules of conduct (§74.5) and disciplinary action (§74.9). These changes are adopted in conjunction with the board's review of chapter 74, pursuant to the requirements of the Appropriations Act of 1997, House Bill 1, Article IX, §167. In accordance with §167, the board reviewed this chapter and determined that it should be readopted, with the proposed changes. The adopted review was published in the November 17, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 11529). The board found that the reason for this chapter, with the proposed changes, continued to exist. The adopted amendments also make changes in format and text for clarification and for consistency, both internally and with the Chiropractic Act, and to delete redundant or unnecessary provisions in the current §74.1.

Chapter 74, as amended, sets out in detail the basic components of the board's facility regulatory program. The chapter will provide better notice to licensees, facility owners and managers and the public of the requirements for licensure and the rules of conduct and disciplinary procedure governing chiropractic facilities. The purpose of these rules is to ensure adequate regulation of chiropractic facilities for the public safety and notice of board policy and board regulations governing chiropractic facilities and to require the submission of specific information that the board must obtain from facilities in order to carry out its regulatory responsibilities.

No comments were received concerning the proposed rules.

The amendment and new rules are adopted under the Occupations Code §201.152, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules necessary for the performance of its duties, the regulation of the practice of chiropractic, and the enforcement of the Chiropractic Act, and §201.312, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules relating to the regulation of chiropractic facilities.

§74.1.Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

Board-Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;

(2)

Chiropractic Act-Occupations Code, Chapter 201;

(3)

Chiropractic Radiologic Technologist (CRT)-A person who is registered with the board under chapter 78 of this title (concerning CRTs);

(4)

Facility-An office or business that provides chiropractic services by or under the direction of a doctor of chiropractic licensed by the board;

(5)

Health Professions Council Act (HPCA)-Occupations Code, Chapter 101;

(6)

Licensee-A person who is licensed by the board to practice chiropractic in the State of Texas; and

(7)

Medical Radiologic Technologist Certification Act (MRTCA)-Occupations Code, Chapter 601.

§74.2.Facility License Requirements.

(a)

A facility shall not provide chiropractic services without first being licensed by the board.

(b)

An applicant for a facility license shall submit to the board an application as prescribed by the board, along with the facility license fee as provided in §75.7 of this title (relating to fees), payable by personal or company check to the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The application must be signed by the owner, if a sole proprietorship, or by an authorized representative, if a partnership or corporation.

(c)

The following information shall be included in the application and upon renewal:

(1)

the legal name of the facility, the address, and telephone and facsimile numbers of the primary and secondary locations of the facility to be licensed;

(2)

the type of legal entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation);

(3)

the name, address, and percentage of ownership of each person with a 10% or greater ownership interest in the facility; if a person is an individual, include the person's social security number, driver's license number, date of birth, and if a licensee, his or her license number;

(4)

the name and license number of each doctor licensed by the board who is employed or otherwise engaged to provide chiropractic services at the facility; and

(5)

any other information requested by the board that it deems necessary for processing the application or for other regulatory purposes.

(d)

Social security numbers are collected for purposes of child support collection and student loan enforcement.

(e)

A facility owner must be 21 years of age or older.

(f)

A facility will be charged for one license, regardless of the number of locations for each facility. For administrative record keeping purposes, each separate location will be issued a separate license number. The application shall identify one location as the primary location; all other locations shall be designated as secondary. Facilities that share office space or staff but otherwise maintain separate business identities, including separate billing, accounting or other functions, shall be treated as separate facilities and each charged a license fee.

(g)

No license will be issued on an incomplete submission. Application or renewal packages that are submitted without all of the required documents or fees will be deemed incomplete and returned to the applicant.

(h)

This chapter does not apply to hospitals or public health clinics registered with the Texas Department of Health or another state agency, or a chiropractic facility owned and operated by a Texas college of chiropractic as part of its chiropractic internship program.

§74.5.Rules of Conduct.

(a)

Practicing chiropractic in a facility with an expired facility license constitutes practicing chiropractic without a license. A licensee shall not practice chiropractic in such facility until the facility license is renewed.

(b)

A facility with an expired license that continues to provide chiropractic services shall be subject to the maximum sanctions for practicing without a chiropractic license.

(c)

No facility owner or employee, other than the primary treating doctor of chiropractic, shall control or attempt to control, in any way whatsoever, the professional judgment of such treating doctor with respect to patient care and treatment.

(d)

A facility shall maintain a current business address with the board for each location. A different mailing address may be provided in addition to the business address. A facility shall notify the board, in writing, of any change in business or mailing address or ownership within 30 days of the change. The notification shall be signed by the owner or authorized representative of the facility and must include the facility license number.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 18, 2001.

TRD-200100353

Gary K. Cain, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Effective date: February 7, 2001

Proposal publication date: November 17, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6709


Chapter 80. MISCELLANEOUS

22 TAC §80.3, §80.5

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts amendments to chapter 80 (amendment to §80.3 and new §80.5) relating to miscellaneous provisions, without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 17, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 11371). The text of the rules as amended will not be republished. The amendments provide a maximum rate for copies of chiropractic records in subsection (e) of §80.3 and set out record keeping requirements, including a maximum period of retention for chiropractic records, in new §80.5. The Chiropractic Act, Occupations Code §201.405(f), requires a person requesting records to pay the chiropractor a reasonable fee. Section 80.3(e) sets out the amount which the board deems is a reasonable fee. The rate is taken from the Board of Medical Examiners' rule on this same subject. Presently, the chiropractic board does not require that licensees maintain patient records for any length of time. Patient care requires the creation and maintenance of appropriate patient records. The board and others who may require access to patient records need to be assured that records are available for a reasonable period of time. Section 80.5 is also taken from the Board of Medical Examiners, and represents in the Board's opinion a reasonable manner of addressing this issue. These amendments will provide greater assurance that chiropractors will charge reasonable and uniform rates for copies of patient records and that patient records will be maintained and available for a reasonable period.

No comments were received concerning the proposed rules.

The amendment and new rule are adopted under Occupations Code, §201.152, which the board interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules necessary for performances of its duties, the regulation of the practice of chiropractic, and the enforcement of the Chiropractic Act, and §210.405 which sets out statutory responsibilities and requirements for release of patient records, and which the board interprets as one of the provisions it is charged with enforcing.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 18, 2001.

TRD-200100354

Gary K. Cain, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Effective date: February 7, 2001

Proposal publication date: November 17, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6709