New Disclosure & Consent Form Required in 2020

December 20, 2019

The Texas Medical Disclosure Panel (TMDP) has adopted changes to the informed consent forms, which will take effect January 1, 2020. The list of complications for “A” and “B” procedures must be used as well.

Beginning January 1, a patient must sign the new version of the applicable form before a physician provides the care or procedure to have it presumed in a court proceeding that the physician obtained informed consent.

The amended, adopted versions of the two forms, each in both English and Spanish, were published in the Texas Register on June 21. Download the 2020 English version or the Spanish version of the medical care/surgical procedures form.

Updated procedures list across all specialties can be found on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

TPMA Chief Medical Officer Announced

December 11, 2019

The Texas Podiatric Medical Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Brancheau, DPM, as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). The CMO is a physician leader that will oversee the association medical leadership and legislative activities.

Dr. Brancheau graduated from Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in 1980, followed by finishing his 1st year of residency at Doctor’s Hospital in Mesquite, TX and his 2nd year of residency at Waldo General (now Swedish Medical Center) in Seattle, WA in 1982. After his 2 years of residency, Dr. Brancheau continued his training with a 1-year fellowship through American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Brancheau is board certified by American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery as well as the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He is published in several peer reviewed medical journals as well as lectured nationally for many years.

Dr. Brancheau served as the president of TPMA from 2012-2013. He has also served on multiple committees for the association including budget, continuing medical education, and scope of practice. As Director of the Hunt Regional Medical Center Residency Program he is immersed in the education of our future podiatrists. Dr. Brancheau also serves as adjunct clinical professor of podiatric medicine and surgery at many of the colleges of podiatric medicine, including Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, to name a few.

“Dr. Brancheau will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to working with him. I have personally witnessed his long-standing dedication to TPMA. He is an excellent candidate for this position and is committed to fulfilling our mission.” – Melinda Daise

“I’m very excited about this appointment. Dr. Brancheau adds experience, leadership, institutional knowledge and relationships that are immeasurable. He has the full support of our Executive Board and I look forward to working together to achieve all of TPMA’s goals.” – Steven A. Walters, DPM

“I would like to extend a sincere thank you for my appointment as Chief Medical Officer of the TPMA. I will work as a medical representative of TPMA under direction from the Board of Directors, President Steven Walters, DPM, and the Executive Director, Melinda Daise. With a legislative session looming, there is much to be done in the coming year. As your CMO, you have my promise to always represent you the members, in the best interest of the TPMA. Again, my humble and sincere thanks for this appointment. I am excited to begin this journey as your representative!” – Steven Brancheau, DPM

TPMA’s Mission: Unifying and empowering podiatric physicians in providing excellence in foot and ankle care for all Texans.

Governor Abbott Appoints Brown To Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board

October 9, 2019

September 30, 2019 | Austin, Texas

Reposted from the Office of the Texas Governor – Greg Abbott

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Cory Brown, D.P.M. to the Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board for a term set to expire February 1, 2023. The advisory board provides advice and recommendations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on technical matters relevant to the regulation of the practice of podiatry.

Cory Brown, D.P.M. of Albany is a podiatrist and partner at Abilene Diagnostic Clinic. He is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, immediate past president of the Texas Podiatric Medical Association, and an associate member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Additionally, he is a board member of the Albany ISD Board of Trustees. Brown received a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Angelo State University and a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Des Moines University.

Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine to induct TPMA members into its Hall of Fame during 2019 Alumni Reunion Weekend

July 31, 2019

Independence, OH – April 18, 2019 – Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (KSUCPM) in partnership with the Ohio Podiatric Medical Student Association (OPMSA) will host its Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend Thursday, August 15 – Sunday, August 18th. The weekend-long celebration will consist of the North Coast Foot & Ankle Symposium CME Program hosted at the College, a reunion event on Friday evening, and the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, wherein 1976 alumnus Jay D. Lifshen, DPM will be honored with a posthumous induction into the College’s Hall of Fame Society and 1980 KSUCPM alumnus Steven P. Brancheau, DPM, FACFAS, along with one other, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Society.

The Annual Alumni & Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on Saturday, August 17th will be held from 6:30 – 10PM at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in University Circle. The college will recognize several of its alumni with awards including including KSUCPM Distinguished Alumni – Christopher F. Hyer, DPM ’00; KSUCPM Service Award- David H. Gross, DPM ’71 and Donna M. Pacchioni, EMBA; and Young Physician Professional Achievement Award- William T. DeCarbo, DPM ‘04. In addition to Dr. Lifshen’s posthumous induction, KSUCPM will welcome Steven P. Brancheau, DPM ’80, as well as Winfield E. Butlin, DPM ’64 into the Hall of Fame Society.

Founded in 1916, Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine is one of nine accredited podiatry colleges in the nation, and is a four-year, graduate level medical college, granting the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. The mission of CPM is to educate students to be highly competent doctors of podiatric medicine who will excel in residency training.

Please join KSUCPM in congratulating Dr. Lifshen and Dr. Brancheau on their many accomplishments and induction into its Hall of Fame Society! All proceeds will benefit the OPMSA Outstanding Podiatric Medical Student Award. For Alumni Reunion Weekend ticket information, please contact Alyssa Shepherd, KSUCPM Advancement Services Manager, at 216-916-7547 or at ashephe8@kent.edu. Online registration for all events is now available at www.kent.edu/cpm/2019ARW.

##ENDS##

Contact: Madalynne Stanic
Special Assistant, CPM
216-643-8053 ; mstanic2@kent.edu

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TPMA Legislative Victory!

May 30, 2019

As you know, the 86th Session of the Texas Legislature convened in Austin on January 8, 2019 and adjourned “Sine Die” 140 days later on May 27, 2019. More than 7,000 bills were filed during the Session . . . and TPMA monitored approximately 500 bills of interest, which included legislation regulating the health professions, the Texas Medicaid program, health benefit plans and managed care organizations, and prescription drug monitoring for all prescribers. Important legislative initiatives supported by TPMA and the other health professions were passed and are now headed to the Governor for signature.

However, the highlight of the 86th Session for TPMA, the Texas Podiatric Medical Profession, and the patients you serve was the passage of TPMA’s priority bills for the Session . . . HB 2593 by Representative Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) and SB 1533 by Senator Jose Menéndez (D-San Antonio). The purpose of this legislation was to clarify that (1) persons who perform podiatric radiologic procedures at the direction of a podiatrist are regulated by TDLR and (2) podiatrists are authorized to delegate certain podiatric medical acts to a qualified and properly trained podiatric medical assistant.

We are pleased to report that on April 24, 2019, HB 2593 and SB 1533 were added as a House floor amendment to HB 2845 by Representative Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth), the TDLR omnibus clean-up bill. HB 2845 was then approved by the full House on April 26, 2019; passed by the full Senate on May 20, 2019; and signed by the Governor on May 27, 2019.

This important legislation was necessary because in 1987, the Texas Legislature enacted the Medical Radiologic Technologist Certification Act which regulates persons who administer radiation to a human for a medical purpose. However, the Act did not apply to practitioners (medical doctors, doctors of podiatric medicine, dentists, etc.) or persons who perform a radiologic procedure under the instruction or direction of a practitioner provided the person and the practitioner comply with rules adopted by the practitioner’s licensing agency to regulate the manner in which the delegation is accomplished.

As a result, the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (Board) adopted rules regulating persons who perform podiatric radiological procedures for any podiatric medical purpose at the direction of a podiatrist . . . and requiring these persons to register with the Board.

Initially, when the Medical Radiologic Certification Act was passed by the Texas Legislature, the regulation of persons who perform radiological procedures was administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Later, in 2015, the Texas Legislature transferred the program to the Texas Medical Board. Then, in 2017, the Legislature transferred the regulation of the practice of podiatry from the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). As a result, any person performing podiatric radiological procedures at the direction of a DPM must be registered with TDLR. However, radiology training programs and instructors for these persons had to be approved by the Texas Medical Board. Additionally, current Texas law did not specifically authorize DPMs to delegate podiatric medical acts to a podiatric medical assistant. The passage of HB 2847 has now successfully addressed these two concerns.

We will provide a complete summary of the important bills that were passed this Session during the TPMA Annual Business Meeting which will be held at the Lost Pines Resort in Cedar Creek, Texas on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Hope to see you there. Thank you for your support this Session.

For more information regarding these and other legislative issues, please contact TPMA Legal and Legislative Counsel, Mark J. Hanna, 2414 Exposition Boulevard, Suite A-1, Austin, Texas 78703; telephone: (512) 477-6200; fax: (512) 477-1188; electronic mail: mhanna@markjhanna.com.