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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
A State of Affairs —
The 85th Texas Legislative Session
By Leah Jacobson, MD, 2017 BCMS President
“Be an advocate for the people and causes important to you, using the most powerful tool only you have—your personal stories.”
― John Capecci and Timothy Cage
As I prepared to write this article, the Texas State Legislature re- • SB 1066 requires new medical schools to offer new GME posi-
mained in Special Session and there was still no passage of a Sunset tions to keep pace with their medical graduates;
Bill regarding the Texas Medical Board (TMB) and the Texas Med-
ical Practice Act. What a daunting thought! Could the practice of • SB 1107 establishes a statutory definition for telemedicine and
medicine be "up in the air" as of Sept. 1, 2017? Could we, as physi- clarifies standard of care;
cians, be without a governing board? I do not believe that it is so
much an issue of whether the State Legislators want to approve pas- • SB 1148 prohibits the state from using maintenance of certifica-
sage of such legislation, but more that our interests, as physicians tion (MOC) as a requirement as a requirement for state licensure,
and the practice of medicine, are being caught up in the politics of hospital privileges or insurance participation; and
the State Legislature. Many questions remain, but I do have faith
that when you read this there will have been passage of legislation • HB 1600 will allow Medicaid to pay physicians for mental health
renewing the TMB and the Texas Medical Practice Act.** screenings during annual well-child exams just to discuss a few.
As you may or may not know, one of the main benefits of your • It also appears, at the time of this drafting, that the Legislature
BCMS membership is advocacy, particularly as it pertains to State will approve an extension of the Maternal Morbidity and Mor-
issues. With regards to this year's legislative session, I was fortunate tality Task Force.
to be able to attend all of the Texas Medical Association's "First
Tuesdays" with many of your colleagues and alliance members, as It is important that we continue to stay abreast of the ongoing
well as BCMS's chief government affairs officer, Mary Nava. I am changes to the practice of medicine, both at the state and national
happy to report that at least 15-20 members were at each event level. Also important is talking to your patients, but not just about
representing you, the members of BCMS. We worked hard to their medical conditions. Patients have lots of questions with regards
lobby on many issues, including step therapy measures, balanced- to healthcare, insurance issues, etc. It is important to keep them in-
billing, ban on texting while driving, clarifications on telemedi- volved in the legislative process and update them on things that may
cine, increase in GME funding and residency positions, affect them and their families. To help with this, the BCMS General
vaccination issues, and many more. Overall, I feel that organized Membership Fall Meeting co-sponsored with UT-Health will be fo-
medicine was successful in their endeavors. cused on an update of the 85th State Legislative Session, and possi-
bly some national issues as well. It will be Thursday, Oct. 12 in the
While the Sunset Bill(s) remain the top priority during the Reg- Holly Auditorium at UT-Health SA. There will be one hour of
ular and Special Sessions, many bills were passed that influence the ethics CME associated with this event. I invite and encourage you
practice of medicine for physicians and our patients. A few high- to attend this informative meeting.
lights of bills passed, include:
• HB 10 which seeks to establish a state mental health parity work Sincerely,
Leah H. Jacobson, MD
group, as well as designate an ombudsman as an advocacy source 2017 BCMS President
and clarify benefits for mental health and substance abuse:
• SB 507 expands the billing mediation process for out-of-network **Addendum: Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Senate version of the
facilities and providers; Texas Medical Board (TMB) Sunset bills — SB 20 (which extends
• SB 680 which empowers the physicians to override health plans' the life of TMB) and Senate Bill 60 (which provides funding for the
step therapy protocols; agency) on Friday, Aug. 11, the same day they passed on third read-
ing in the House.
8 San Antonio Medicine • September 2017
