From:    jfowler5@austin.rr.com (WCC)
Reply-to:    jonfowl@academicplanet.com
To:    jfowler5@austin.rr.com

Senate OKs enforcement boost to Texas State Board.

The powers of the state Board of Medical Examiners will be beefed up, and
the board will be required to more aggressively weed out bad doctors under a bill given final
approval by the state Senate Friday.

The final version of Senate Bill 102 had already passed the House and is now
headed to Gov. Rick Perry's desk.

The measure, part of this session's efforts to bring down medical
malpractice insurance premiums, will increase various licensing fees for
doctors to pay for more vigorous enforcement by the board.

The board will be required to develop Profiles of all physicians, listing
their training, back grounds, and trouble spots. Investigators will be
required to put special emphasis on speedily pursuing cases that involve
sexual misconduct, substance abuse or medical malpractice.

The agency will also be required to issue annual reports to help lawmakers
and the public better track its enforcement record.!