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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
The Family of Medicine Needs YOU!
By Leah Jacobson, MD, 2017 BCMS President
The 85th Texas legislative session is well underway, and it is now crit-
ical that you get involved! There have been more than 1,300 bills filed
already, and over 400 of them involve health care in some way. It is im-
portant for physicians to continue to fight for our patients and the prac-
tice of medicine. We have been very successful in the past with tort
reform and scope of practice issues. We must continue our efforts and
build upon them.
Physician advocacy is one of the main reasons that doctors join Bexar
County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association. Why be
politically active? Here is what physicians are saying:
“If we do not work to manage medical legislation, it will be managed
for us. Help save our profession.”
“Policy-making is not a spectator sport. You cannot sit on the side-
lines and say somebody else will do it. It doesn’t work that way. You’ve
got to be involved and you’ve got to be interested.”
“You either help govern or you’re governed.”
“A physician’s responsibility is to seek changes in those requirements
which are contrary to the best interest of the patient.”
“Physicians can join TEXPAC and make their voices heard.” **
There are several ways to get involved either directly
or indirectly. These include
1. Joining the BCMS Legislative/Socioeconomics Committee
The BCMS Legislative/Socioeconomics Committee is chaired by
Drs. Alex Kenton and Ashok Kumar and staffed very capably by
Mary Nava, BCMS Chief Government Affairs Officer. It meets the
fourth Wednesday of each month. Please contact Mary Nava at 210-
301-4395 or Mary.Nava@bcms.org.
2. Running for a position as delegate or alternate delegate to the
TMA House of Delegates
Every year in October, you, the members of BCMS, elect a number
of delegates and alternate delegates to represent BCMS at the TMA
House of Delegates meetings. Throwing your name in the ring, so
to speak, is a great way to get involved and learn more about organ-
ized medicine at the state level. There are many opportunities to get
involved there as well.
3. Joining/Giving to TEXPAC
TEXPAC is a non-partisan State and Federal Political Action Com-
mittee advocating on behalf of Texas physicians, residents, and med-
ical students. This organization does tremendous work on behalf of
the Texas Physicians. Ironically, only a very small percentage of
BCMS members actively support TEXPAC. Please go to their web-
site, www.texpac.org, to learn more and donate.
4. Attending First Tuesdays
The “White Coat Invasion” has been the key to physicians’ successes
in the Texas Legislature since the inception of First Tuesdays at the
Capitol in 2003. Our senators and representatives listen when their
hometown doctors appear in their offices. Our influence is so much
greater when physicians and alliance members arrive en masse in
8 San Antonio Medicine • February 2017
the House and Senate galleries.
It’s time again to bring out Texas
medicine’s strongest weapon.
Mark your calendar now to join us during the 85th Texas Legislature
on Feb. 7, March 7, April 4 and May 2, 2017.
As part of First Tuesdays, you will:
• make a difference now and for medicine’s future.
• become well-versed on the issues facing medicine in the 2017 ses-
sion.
• inform your senator and representative and their aides about these
issues.
• attend committee hearings and House and Senate sessions.
Physicians, Alliance members, and medical students who attend First
Tuesdays at the Capitol will focus on:
• Preserving physicians’ right to bill for services;
• Improving Medicaid payment rates and reducing red tape and
hassles;
• Protecting the patient-physician relationship while taking advantage
of new technologies such as telemedicine;
• Physician licensing and disciplinary issues as part of the Sunset re-
view of the Texas Medical Board;
• Stop the “scope creep” of lesser trained medical professionals;
• Winning funding for public health surveillance and prevention;
• Maintaining Texas’ strong medical liability reforms. ***
5. Contacting your legislators
Contacting your legislators can be as simple as forwarding informa-
tion sent from BCMS or TMA to a representative or senator, or as
involved as setting up a meeting or call on your own with one of
your legislators. Everything helps — calls, emails, letters, meetings.
They all make a difference! Please look on the BCMS website under
advocacy for the information on the legislators, or use this link
www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us.
6. Talking to your patients
Talking to your patients is always important, but not just about
their medical conditions. Patients have lots of questions with regards
to healthcare, insurance issues, etc. It’s important to keep them in-
volved in the legislative process and let them know that their voice
and concerns matter.
Challenge and opportunity is what the TMA is saying this leg-
islative session brings. With your help, the Texas Medical Associ-
ation and Bexar County Medical Soceity can face up to the
challenges and seize the opportunities.
I look forward to your involvement in this legislative session.
**BCMS website ***TMA website/brochure