The Consumer Resources section of the agency website provides a variety of information for the public about the purpose and activities of the Boards as well as information that can assist in making sound health care decisions. Here you can research health care practitioners licensed by the Boards, file a complaint, learn about the agency’s enforcement process, submit an open records request, and access agency statistics and data.
In addition to the information provided in this section, many consumer questions can be answered by viewing the Frequently Asked Questions below and in the FAQ section of the website. If you wish to contact staff for more information, please visit the Contact Us page for a summary of agency departments.
DISCLAIMER:
Any and all statements herein should not be construed as official policy or positions of the Texas Medical Board and are merely provided by Board staff for general guidance. No individual staff member is authorized to provide a binding opinion or statement for the full Board. Nothing herein should be construed as legal advice for any particular situation.
Consumer FAQs
Who do I call if I have questions?
Call (512) 305-7030 to reach a member of the Pre-Licensure, Registration, and Consumer Services department between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time, or send an email to verifcic@tmb.state.tx.us.
How do I file a complaint?
Are complaints public information?
Complaints and investigational information received and maintained are not public information, by state law. Any resulting disciplinary orders are public and can be viewed on the physician’s profile. Formal complaints filed by the Board at the State Office of Administrative Hearings are public documents.
What information is available on a physician’s Profile?
Statutory regulations require the TMB to maintain a profile on each licensed physician. This profile information is gathered in conjunction with the license registration and is available to the public through our online verification database. The Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 154.006 requires that information be made available through the physician profile system. In addition to the statutorily required information, the TMB has adopted rules (Chapter 173) regarding the contents of the physician profile system. Due to concern expressed by licensees regarding identity theft and the public disclosure of exact dates of birth, the TMB no longer includes exact dates of birth in our data products, online verification databases or verbal verifications. We do however continue to include birth year.
Can I file a liability claim through the Medical Board against my physician?
No. Liability claims are heard in civil court. The TMB does not evaluate or give advice regarding civil liability claims. Note: The TMB cannot give legal advice. Please consult an attorney if you have questions regarding liability claims.
Has my physician ever been sued?
Does a physician have to have malpractice insurance?
How do I obtain a copy of my medical records?
Mail a written request for records to the physician by certified mail, return receipt requested. This method provides assurance that the request was delivered. State law allows a patient to obtain a copy of his records, or ask that a copy be sent to a new doctor or someone else, such as an insurance company. This law requires a physician to release copies of a patient's medical records (or a narrative summary) if the physician receives written consent from the patient or the minor patient's parent or legal guardian. The physician shall furnish the information within 15 business days after the date of receipt of the request, and reasonable fees for furnishing the information. The reasonable fees shall be paid by the patient or someone on his/her behalf.
My physician closed his office. How do I get my medical records?
Put your request in writing and send it to the physician’s address listed on the physician’s Profile on the TMB website. You can also contact the TMB to determine if a custodian of records has been reported. If another physician has taken over the practice, the records may also be available there.
My physician died. How do I get my medical records?
At this time there is no centralized state repository for medical records. Sometimes patients send a written request for records to the doctor’s next of kin or the executor of the doctor’s estate. A patient may also contact the TMB to determine if a custodian of records has been reported. If another physician has taken over the practice, the records may be available there.
How long do physicians have to keep medical records?
Generally, seven years from the last treatment date.
What are reasonable fees for medical records?
Board rules define a reasonable fee for providing paper copies of medical records as no more than $25 for the first twenty pages and $.50 per page for every copy thereafter. A reasonable fee for providing copies of medical records in electronic format is a charge of no more than: $25 for 500 pages or less and $50 for more than 500 pages. Also, a reasonable fee of up to $15 may be charged for executing an affidavit, if requested.
A physician may not charge a fee for a medical or mental health record if the request is related to a benefits or assistance claim based on the patient's disability.
A reasonable fee for copies of imaging studies shall be no more than $8 per copy of an imaging study.
What are reasonable fees for billing records?
Unless the billing records are specifically requested, the physician is not required to provide copies of billing records as part of the medical records. A physician may charge separate fees for medical and billing records requested.
What are reasonable fees for hospital records?
Requests for records created and kept by a hospital should be directed to the hospital rather than to the physician. Fees for hospital records differ from those records provided by physicians.