Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/November232018/Proposed%20Rules/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 06:11:37+00:00

Document:
The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Board) proposes repealing 22 TAC §73.1 (Continuing Education). The purpose of repealing this section is to remove it and then replace it at the same time with an updated new rule regarding continuing education.
The Board's Executive Director, Patrick Fortner, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed repeal is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government. There will be no adverse effect on small businesses or rural communities, micro-businesses, or local or state employment. There will be no additional economic costs to persons required to comply with the repeal as proposed. An Economic Impact Statement and Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required because the proposed repeal will not have an adverse economic effect on small businesses or rural communities as defined in Texas Government Code §2006.001(1-a) and (2).
Mr. Fortner has determined for each year of the first five years that the proposed repeal will be in effect, the public benefit is to update and streamline the Board's rules regarding continuing education requirements for chiropractors without lessening the Board's ability to protect the public.
(1) The proposed repeal does not create or eliminate a government program.
(2) Implementation of the proposed repeal does not require the creation of new employee positions or the elimination of existing employee positions.
(3) Implementation of the proposed repeal does not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the Board.
(4) The proposed repeal does not increase or decrease fees paid to the Board.
(5) The proposed repeal does not create a new regulation.
(6) The proposal repeals existing Board rules for an administrative process.
(7) The proposed repeal does not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to the rule's applicability.
(8) The proposed repeal does not positively or adversely affect the state economy.
Comments on the proposed repeal or a request for a public hearing may be submitted to Christopher Burnett, General Counsel, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-825, Austin, Texas 78701, via email: rules@tbce.state.tx.us; or fax: (512) 305-6705, no later than 30 days from the date that this proposed repeal is published in the Texas Register.
The repeal is proposed under Texas Occupations Code §201.152, which authorizes the Board to adopt rules necessary to perform the Board's duties and to regulate the practice of chiropractic.
The proposed repeal does not affect any other statutes or rules.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on November 8, 2018.
The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Board) proposes new §73.1, Continuing Education, to replace the existing §73.1 to update and streamline the Board's continuing education requirements for chiropractors. Accordingly, current §73.1 is being repealed elsewhere in this issue of the Texas Register.
The Board's Executive Director, Patrick Fortner, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed new rule is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the proposed rule.
Mr. Fortner has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed rule is in effect, the expected public benefit will be clarity and guidance for the public and stakeholders regarding the Board's continuing education requirements.
Mr. Fortner has also determined that the proposed new rule will not have an adverse economic effect on small businesses, rural communities or individuals because it does not impose any duties or obligations upon small businesses, rural communities or individuals.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: Mr. Fortner has determined that the proposed rule does not have a government growth impact pursuant to Texas Government Code, §2001.0221.
Comments on the proposed new rule or to a request for a public hearing may be submitted to Christopher Burnett, General Counsel, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 333 Guadalupe Street, Tower III, Suite 825, Austin, Texas 78701, via email rules@tbce.state.tx.us; or fax: (512) 305-6705, no later than 30 days from the date that this proposed new rule is published in the Texas Register.
The new rule is proposed under Texas Occupations Code §201.152, which authorizes the Board to adopt rules necessary to regulate the practice of chiropractic to protect the public health and safety. The Board is further authorized to adopt rules based upon the relevant portions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Government Code §2001.
No other statutes, articles or codes are affected by the new rule.
(v) Licensees who were initially licensed on or after September 1, 2012, must complete at least eight hours of continuing education in coding and documentation for Medicare claims no later than their second renewal period unless they are exempted under subsection (e) of this section. The eight hours in coding and documentation for Medicare claims may be counted as part of the total 16 continuing education hours required during the year in which the eight hours were completed.
(iv) The Board may issue public memoranda on urgent public health issues. The Board will publish these on the Board's website and distribute them to the major continuing education providers.
The Texas Medical Board (Board) proposes amendments to §186.10, concerning Continuing Education Requirements.
The amendment to §186.10 clarifies when continuing education (CE) credit is granted to Respiratory Care Practitioners for completion of an academic semester unit or hour. Previously, the rule did not specify what kind of coursework qualified for this continuing education credit. The amendment makes clear that the academic semester unit or hour must be part of the curriculum of a respiratory care education program or a similar education program in another health-care related field offered by an accredited institution. Additionally, the amendment specifies that the 15 contact hour credit will be granted in non-traditional CE.
Scott Freshour, General Counsel for the Board, has determined that for each year of the first five years this section as proposed is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing this proposal will be to clarify CE credit and ensure that credit is given for coursework relating to the practice of respiratory care.
Mr. Freshour has also determined that for the first five-year period these sections as proposed are in effect there will be no fiscal impact or effect on government growth as a result of enforcing the sections as proposed.
Mr. Freshour has also determined that for the first five-year period the sections are in effect there will be no probable economic cost to individuals required to comply with these rules as proposed.
(2) the agency has considered alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the proposed rule amendments and found none.
(4) there are no foreseeable implications relating to cost or revenues of the state or local governments with regard to enforcing or administering the rule.
Pursuant to Texas Government Code §2001.024(a)(6) and §2001.022, the agency has determined that for each year of the first five years the proposed amendments will be in effect, there will be no effect on local economy and no effect on local employment.
(1) The proposed rules do not create or eliminate a government program.
(4) The proposed rules do not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency.
(5) The proposed rules do not create new regulations.
(6) The proposed rules do not expand existing regulations. The proposed rules do limit existing regulations, as described above.
(7) The proposed rules do not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to the rules' applicability.
(8) The proposed rules do not positively or adversely affect this state's economy.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Rita Chapin, P.O. Box 2018, Austin, Texas 78768-2018, or email comments to: rules.development@tmb.state.tx.us. A public hearing will be held at a later date.
The amendments are proposed under the authority of the Texas Occupations Code Annotated §604.052, which provides authority for the Board to recommend rules necessary to administer and enforce Chapter 604 of the Texas Occupations Code. The amendments are also proposed under the authority of the Texas Occupations Code Annotated §604.154, which provides authority for the Board to establish continuing education requirements.
No other statutes, articles or codes are affected by this proposal.
(a) General. Each respiratory care practitioner is required to complete 24 contact hours of approved continuing education (CE) every two (2) years as a condition of renewal of a certificate. At least 12 contact hours must be in traditional courses. The remainder of contact hours may be in non-traditional courses or from passage of examinations detailed in subsection (b)(3) of this section. At least 2 contact hours must be in ethics. These ethics hours may be completed via traditional courses or non-traditional courses.
(1) A contact hour shall be 60 minutes of attendance and participation in an acceptable continuing education experience.
(2) A retired respiratory care practitioner providing only voluntary charity care who is approved by the advisory board for renewal may complete reduced CE requirements equal to half of the number of CE hours required for renewal for a certified respiratory care practitioner.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, completion of one academic semester unit or hour that is a part of the curriculum of a respiratory care education program or a similar education program in another health-care related field offered by an accredited institution shall be credited 15 contact hours of non-traditional CE.
(4) No CE hours may be carried over from one renewal period to another renewal period.
(1) Traditional CE. Provider-directed educational activities directly related to the profession of respiratory care that require the learner and provider to interact in real time, including, but not limited to, live lectures, courses, seminars, workshops, review sessions, or distance learning activities such as webcasts, videoconferences, and audio conferences in which the learner can interact with the provider. Traditional CE must be approved, recognized, accepted, or assigned CE credit by a professional organization or association (such as TSRC, NBRC or AARC) or offered by a federal, state, or local government entity.
(A) Self-directed study directly related to the profession of respiratory care that does not include interaction between the learner and the instructor. A test at the conclusion of the self-directed study is required. Non-traditional CE must be approved, recognized, accepted, or assigned CE credit by a professional organization or association (such as TSRC, NBRC or AARC) or offered by a federal, state, or local government entity.
(B) A respiratory care practitioner who teaches or instructs a CE course shall be credited one (1) contact hour in non-traditional CE for each contact hour actually taught. CE credit will be given only once for teaching a particular course.
(C) A respiratory care practitioner who teaches or instructs a course in a respiratory care educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care or other accrediting body approved by the board shall be credited one (1) contact hour in non-traditional CE for each contact hour actually taught. CE credit will be given only once per renewal period for teaching a particular course.
(J) Examinations listed in subparagraphs (A) - (I) of this paragraph may be counted only once for credit. If an initial credentialing examination is counted towards fulfillment of CE requirements, the same examination taken later for re-credentialing purposes may only be applied towards fulfillment of CE requirements once every three (3) renewal periods.
(c) Verification of continuing education. The advisory board may conduct random audits of CE reported to be completed by respiratory care practitioners to determine compliance with this section. The advisory board may require written verification of CE hours from a respiratory care practitioner within 30 days of request. Failure to provide such verification may result in disciplinary action by the advisory board.
(D) good cause shown on written application of the respiratory care practitioner that gives satisfactory evidence to the advisory board that he or she is unable to comply with the CE requirement.
(2) Exemptions are subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the Medical Board and must be requested in writing at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate.
(3) An approved exemption may not exceed one renewal period but may be requested biennially, subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the Medical Board.
(e) CE hours that are obtained to comply with the CE requirements for the preceding renewal period as a prerequisite for obtaining the renewal of a certificate shall first be credited to meet the CE requirements for the previous renewal period. Once the previous renewal period's CE requirement is satisfied, any additional hours obtained shall be credited to meet the CE requirements for the current renewal period.
(f) A false report or statement to the advisory board by a respiratory care practitioner regarding CE hours reportedly obtained shall be a basis for disciplinary action by the board pursuant to §604.201 of the Act. A respiratory care practitioner who is disciplined by the advisory board for such a violation may be subject to the full range of actions authorized by the Act including suspension or revocation of the practitioner's certificate.
(g) A respiratory care practitioner who is a military service member may request an extension of time, not to exceed two years, to complete any CE requirements. A request for such extension is subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the Medical Board.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on November 9, 2018.

References: §73
 §2006
 §201
 §73
 §73
 §73
 §2001
 §201
 §2001
 §186
 §186
 §2001
 §2001
 §604
 §604
 §604