SECTION 354.1060. Definitions

The following words and terms shall have the following meaning when used in this division unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Direct supervision--The supervising physician must be in the same office, building, or facility when and where the service is provided and must be immediately available to furnish assistance and direction.

(2) Personal supervision--The supervising physician must be physically present in the room when and where the service is being provided.

(3) Substitute physician--A physician who provides services in place of another physician under either a reciprocal or locum tenens arrangement. These arrangements must comply with Medicaid policy, billing, reporting, and documentation requirements.

(A) Reciprocal arrangements--of a substitute physician covering for the billing physician on an occasional basis when the billing physician is unavailable to provide services, and limited to a continuous period of coverage that is no longer than 14 days. Reciprocal arrangements do not have to be in writing.

(B) Locum tenens arrangements--of a substitute physician assuming the practice of a billing physician for a temporary period of no longer than 90 days when the billing physician is absent for reasons such as illness, pregnancy, vacation, continuing medical education, or active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. When the reason is due to active duty in the Armed Forces, the temporary period may extend over a longer continuous period during all of which the billing physician has been called or ordered to active duty as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces. Locum tenens arrangements must be in writing.

Source Note: The provisions of this §354.1060 adopted to be effective August 5, 2009, 34 TexReg 5059; amended to be effective July 14, 2014, 39 TexReg 5353