The Texas Medical Board (Board) adopts the amendments to §174.2 (Definitions) and new §174.6 (standards for delegation to and supervision of telepresenters), relating to Telemedicine. The amendments and the new rule are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the April 28, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 3479) and will not be republished.

Prior to publishing the proposed amendments, the Board sought stakeholder input through an Enforcement Stakeholder Group, organized in 2005. The Enforcement Stakeholder Group made comments on the suggested changes to the rules at a meeting held on March 21, 2006, which comments were incorporated into the published proposed rules.

The Board received one comment from the Texas Medical Association regarding the proposed new §174.6. The Association suggested that §174.6(c) be expanded to provide a definition of "adequate supervision." The Board will seek comments from the Enforcement Stakeholder Group regarding a definition of "adequate supervision," which may be considered by the Board in future rulemaking actions.

The amendment and new section are proposed under the authority of the Texas Occupations Code Annotated, §153.001, which provides the Texas Medical Board to adopt rules and bylaws as necessary to: govern its own proceedings; perform its duties; regulate the practice of medicine in this state; enforce this subtitle; and establish rules related to licensure.