(a) Unless otherwise indicated, temporary license holders under this chapter shall be subject to the duties, limitations, disciplinary actions, rehabilitation order provisions, and procedures applicable to licensees in the Medical Practice Act and board rules. Temporary license holders under this chapter shall also be subject to the limitations and restrictions elaborated in this chapter.
(b) Temporary and limited license holders under this chapter shall cooperate with the board and board staff involved in investigation, review, or monitoring associated with the license holder's practice of medicine. Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, written response to the board or board staff written inquiry within 14 days of receipt of such inquiry.
(c) In accordance with the Medical Practice Act, the board shall retain jurisdiction to discipline a temporary or limited license holder whose license has been terminated, canceled, and/or expired if the license holder violated the Medical Practice Act or board rules during the time the license was valid.
(d) The issuance of a temporary or limited license shall not be construed to obligate the board to issue subsequent permits or licenses. The board reserves the right to investigate, deny a permit, temporary or limited license, or full licensure, and/or discipline a physician regardless of when the information was received by the board.
(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the board from issuing temporary or limited licenses to those physicians awaiting full licensure pursuant to §172.11 of this title (relating to Temporary Licensure--Regular) or to those licensees who qualify for CME temporary licenses pursuant to §166.2(k) of this title (relating to CME temporary licenses).
(f) All applicants for temporary or limited licenses whose applications have been filed with the board in excess of one year will be considered expired.
  (1) If the Executive Director determines that the applicant clearly meets all requirements for the temporary or limited license, the Executive Director or a person designated by the Executive Director, may issue a license to the applicant, to be effective on the date of issuance without formal board approval, as authorized by §155.002(b) of the Act.
  (2) If the Executive Director determines that the applicant does not clearly meet all requirements for a temporary or limited license, a license may be issued only upon action by the board following a recommendation by the Licensure Committee, in accordance with §155.007 of the Act (relating to Application Process) and §187.13 of this title (relating to Informal Board Proceedings Relating to Licensure Eligibility).
  (3) If the Executive Director determines that the applicant is ineligible for a temporary or limited for one or more reasons that are not subject to exception by statute or rule, the applicant may appeal that decision to the Licensure Committee before completing other licensure requirements for a determination by the Committee solely regarding issues raised by the determination of ineligibility. If the Committee overrules the determination of the Executive Director, the applicant may then provide additional information to complete the application, which must be analyzed by board staff and approved before a license may be issued.
(g) In addition to other definitions that may apply to licensure, the following words and terms, when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Act that is part of patient care service--Any diagnosis, assessment, or treatment including the taking of diagnostic imaging studies as well as the preparation of pathological material for examination.
  (2) Controlled substance--A substance, including a drug, an adulterant, and a dilutant, listed in Schedules I through V or Penalty Groups 1, 1-A, or 2 through 4 as described under the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481 (Texas Controlled Substances Act). The term includes the aggregate weight of any mixture, solution, or other substance containing a controlled substance.
  (3) Dangerous drug--A device or a drug that is unsafe for self medication and that is not included in Schedules I through V or Penalty Groups 1 through 4 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481 (Texas Controlled Substances Act). The term includes a device or a drug that bears or is required to bear the legend: "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription."
  (4) Episodic consultation--Consultation on an irregular or infrequent basis involving no more than 24 patients of a physician's diagnostic or therapeutic practice per calendar year. Multiple consultations may be performed for one or more patients up to 24 patients per calendar year.
  (5) Informal consultation--Consultation performed outside the context of a contractual relationship and on an irregular or infrequent basis without the expectation of or exchange of direct or indirect compensation.
  (6) Patient care service initiated in this state--Any act constituting the practice of medicine as defined in this chapter in which the patient is physically located in Texas at the time of diagnosis, treatment, or testing.
  (7) Person--An individual unless otherwise expressly made applicable to a partnership, association, or corporation.
  (8) Practice of medicine--A person shall be considered to be practicing medicine under any of the following circumstances listed in subparagraphs (A) - (D) of this paragraph. This definition does not negate the responsibility of applicants to demonstrate engagement in the active practice of medicine as set forth in §163.11 of this title (relating to Active Practice of Medicine).
    (A) the person publicly professes to be a physician or surgeon and diagnoses, treats, or offers to treat any mental or physical disease or disorder, or any physical deformity or injury by any system or method or to effect cures thereof;
    (B) the person diagnoses, treats or offers to treat any mental or physical disease or disorder, or any physical deformity or injury by any system or method and to effect cures thereof and charges therefor, directly or indirectly, money or other compensation;
    (C) the person exercises medical judgment, renders an opinion, or gives advice concerning the diagnosis or treatment of a patient, or makes any determination regarding the appropriate or necessary medical response to a particular patient's medical condition that affects the medical care of the patient; or
    (D) the person is physically located in another jurisdiction, other than the state of Texas, and through any medium performs an act that is part of patient care service initiated in this state that would affect the diagnosis or treatment of the patient.
  (9) State--Any state, territory, or insular possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.

Source Note: The provisions of this §172.2 adopted to be effective November 7, 2004, 29 TexReg 10111; amended to be effective January 25, 2006, 31 TexReg 387; amended to be effective August 10, 2008, 33 TexReg 6135; amended to be effective September 19, 2010, 35 TexReg 8351