(a) Qualification requirements. Physicians, doctors, and other health care providers employed by or under contract with a URA to perform utilization review must be appropriately trained, qualified, and currently licensed. Personnel conducting utilization review must hold an unrestricted license or an administrative license in Texas or be otherwise authorized to provide health care services in Texas. Physicians and doctors conducting utilization review must hold a professional certification in a health care specialty appropriate to the type of health care the injured employee is receiving as required by Labor Code §§408.0043, 408.0044, and 408.0045. Physicians, doctors, and other health care providers conducting utilization review must have the appropriate credentials as required by Chapter 180 of this title (relating to Monitoring and Enforcement).
  (1) This subchapter does not supersede requirements in the Medical Practice Act, Texas Medical Board rules, Texas Occupations Code Chapter 201 (relating to Chiropractors), or Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners rules. Individuals licensed by the Texas Medical Board are subject to 22 TAC Chapter 190, regarding disciplinary guidelines.
  (2) Personnel who perform clerical or administrative tasks are not required to have the qualifications prescribed by this subsection.
(b) Disqualifying associations. For purposes of this subsection, being employed by or under contract with the same URA as the physician, doctor, or other health care provider who issued the initial adverse determination does not in itself constitute a disqualifying association. A physician, doctor, or other health care provider who conducts utilization review must not have any disqualifying associations with the:
  (1) injured employee or health care provider who is requesting utilization review or an appeal; or
  (2) physician, doctor, or other health care provider who issued the initial adverse determination.
(c) Information a URA must send to TDI. A URA must send to TDI the name, type, Texas license number, and qualifications of the personnel either employed or under contract to perform utilization review with an original or renewal application.
(d) Written procedures and maintenance of records. A URA must develop and implement written procedures, and maintain documentation, to demonstrate that all physicians, doctors, and other health care providers used by the URA are licensed, qualified, and appropriately trained or experienced.
(e) Physician direction requirement. Utilization review conducted by a URA must be under the direction of a physician currently licensed without restriction to practice medicine in Texas. The physician must be employed by or under contract with the URA.

Source Note: The provisions of this §19.2006 adopted to be effective February 20, 2013, 38 TexReg 892