Texas Health Care Law Blog

Americans could soon access their medical history just as fast as they order takeout. But new rules regarding electronic medical data have sparked debate over whether easier access would hurt or help consumers.

The current fight comes from new information-sharing policies from the federal government, which would allow health care providers to send medical information to third-party apps once a patient gives their consent.

When you run a medical practice, you are subject to a lot of government oversight, especially when handling federal health care patients. One law that physicians and medical practices must abide by is the Stark Law, a federal statute first passed in 1989 and revised three times since then. Each revision has added more provisions and exceptions to the law, making it sometimes difficult to comply with.

The prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine doctrine isn't necessarily a law or passage in the Texas Constitution, but rather a legal doctrine. That is, it's a principle expressed as a set of rules or procedures that developed over multiple rulings.

This doctrine prohibits corporations from making or influencing medical decisions, and therefore from practicing medicine in any sense in Texas.

Whether due to a hostile attitude, refusal to follow medical advice, anger over a diagnosis or more, many doctors, nurses and other health care professionals have encountered difficult patients at some point. Dealing with these individuals can be complicated, especially when you fear that an unfounded or unreasonable complaint could jeopardize your medical license.

Managing difficult patients requires patience and a constant commitment to acting in the best interests of the patient. Because fighting to protect your license can take considerable time and resources from your Texas practice, attempt to gain control of the situation before it escalates. Here are a few tips to ease the tension: