MDs may delegate outpatient prescription authority to how many midlevel providers if they work half-time?

In Texas, MDs (medical doctors) are allowed to delegate certain medical tasks, including outpatient prescription authority, to midlevel providers such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants. The allowed number of midlevel providers that an MD can effectively supervise and delegate prescription authority to is contingent on the time commitment of the physician.

If a physician is working half-time, they can supervise a maximum of 7 midlevel providers for outpatient prescription purposes. This number is based on the stipulation that the physician must provide adequate supervision and be available to provide necessary consultations or oversight, ensuring patient safety and quality of care.

This regulation helps maintain a balance where the physician can manage and closely supervise the midlevel providers without diminishing the quality of care provided to patients. When the physician works full-time, the limit for the delegation of outpatient prescription authority increases to 14 midlevel providers. Therefore, since the physician in this scenario is working half-time, the correct answer reflects the regulated maximum of 7 midlevel providers for supervision and delegation of outpatient prescription authority.