Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate bill No. 529, adding new registration requirements for dental support organizations, according to mondaq.
Here are eight notes:
1. The DSO registration requirements are centered on the provision of nonclinical services to dentists and their practices and thus are not directly regulated by the State Board of Dental Examiners.
2. The Board does not have authority over DSOs and cannot limit the services rendered by DSOs. However, the law allows the Board to monitor DOS activities to increase transparency and enhance the Board's ability to assess DSO's impact on dentistry in Texas.
3. DSOs must register annually with the Secretary of State and pay a fee.
4. They must register by January 31 each year or for an entity first qualifying as a DSO in any year after January 31, within 90 days of qualification.
5. DSOS must file a corrected registration each quarter as necessary.
6. The law goes into effect September 1, 2015. Registration is not mandated before February 1, 2016.
7. The Secretary of State must share all registration information with the Board to help in investigations on behaviors that violate the law.
8. Those DSOs that do not comply with the registration requirement will face a civil penalty in an amount no more than $1,000.
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