Consumer and Public Guide

Consumer Guide to Health Care

The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Medical Board developed a Consumer Guide on the quality of healthcare and healthcare billing and pricing practices, as directed by SB 1731 (2007). The guide provides information on consumer access to healthcare and billing data from health plans and healthcare facilities, as required by Chapter 324, Texas Health and Safety Code, and Chapter 154, Texas Occupations Code.

Consumer Guide to Health Care Billing

The Texas Department of Insurance – Health Insurance website provides information about health care billing.

If you need to file a complaint against a licensed health care professional, please visit the Complaints page for detailed guidance on submitting your complaint and to learn how the Board’s enforcement process protects public safety.

Complaints must be submitted in writing and cannot be anonymous. The identity of complainants is confidential by law, except when complaints are filed by insurance or pharmaceutical companies. While complaint details and investigations remain confidential, any resulting disciplinary orders are public and posted on physician profiles.

To verify license and permit information for health care practitioners regulated by TMB, use the Look Up a License tool. This searchable database allows you to find practitioners by name, city, zip code, specialty, and more, and provides detailed information including specialties, certifications, medical education, and any disciplinary history.

While TMB does not provide referrals or recommend specific doctors, here are additional resources to help you find a new physician:

• Contact your health insurance provider or employer benefits office for a list of in-network doctors.
• For Medicare providers, visit Physician Compare.
• For Medicaid and CHIP providers, visit the Texas Health and Human Services website.
• Use the TMB’s Look Up a Licensee tool to narrow searches by location or specialty.
• Explore the Texas Department of Insurance’s Texas Health Compare and the NIH’s MedlinePlus directories.

Malpractice claims against physicians are handled through local courts, and physicians are required to report any such claims to TMB. Medical Malpractice Jury Awards should appear on the public profile; however this does not include malpractice settlements.

Although Texas law does not mandate malpractice insurance, many hospitals require physicians to carry it as a condition for granting privileges.

TMB does not manage civil liability claims nor provide legal advice.

Each physician’s public profile includes important information such as licensure status, education, specialties, and any disciplinary history. To protect privacy, exact birthdates are omitted, but birth years are provided. Profiles can be accessed through the TMB’s Look Up a License tool.

• If a search returns no results, try simplifying the search terms.
• Common license status meanings:
  • “Suspended, Active” means the physician’s license is suspended, but registration is maintained for potential reinstatement.

Physician information is outlined in the Contents of the Online Profile System page. 

Patients in Texas have important rights when it comes to their medical care and records. This page provides clear information about physician practices, how to request your medical records, what to do if your doctor is no longer available, and what fees may apply. Whether you're navigating a provider transition, seeking records for continuity of care, or simply want to understand what physicians are required—or not required—to do, this guide is designed to help you make informed decisions.

Physicians in Texas are not required by law to carry malpractice insurance. However, many hospitals do require malpractice insurance as a condition for granting clinical privileges. Physicians also retain the right to end the doctor-patient relationship, provided that appropriate notice is given and care is continued for a reasonable period to allow the patient time to find a new provider.

When it comes to exams involving sensitive procedures, such as gynecological exams, it is strongly recommended—but not mandated—that a third party, such as a nurse or family member, be present as a chaperone. If a chaperone is unavailable, the patient may decline the exam and consider seeking care elsewhere.

Physicians may terminate the doctor-patient relationship but should provide adequate notice and continue care until the patient secures a new provider. 

Physicians are required to retain medical records for at least seven years from the date of the last treatment. If a physician retires, closes their office, or passes away, records may still be accessible. Patients can check the physician’s profile on the Texas Medical Board (TMB) website for contact details. In some cases, another physician may have assumed responsibility for the practice and its records. There is no centralized state repository for medical records, but patients may also consider contacting the physician’s next of kin or estate representative when applicable. Patients may also contact the TMB to determine if a custodian of records has been reported.

To obtain medical records, patients must send a written request by certified mail with return receipt requested. State law entitles patients to receive a copy of their records—or have them sent to another provider or third party—if proper written authorization is provided. Physicians must respond within 15 business days of receiving the request. This requirement also applies when a minor’s parent or legal guardian requests the records.

Physicians cannot deny a request for medical records due to a delinquent account or amount owed by the patient.  However, a physician may charge reasonable fees:

If records are mailed, actual postage costs are allowed to be charged.