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LEGISLATIVE
INTRODUCTION

monitoring program, PMP Aware, into physicians’ electronic health
record (EHR) systems. Mr. Finch says that’s the ultimate long-term
solution to making a mandatory PMP check work, and EHR inte-
gration is already happening in other states.
“Texas would be the biggest state to undertake it,” he said. “But
it is clearly where we want to go, because it creates an opportunity
to use the PMP as a clinical database without an intrusive workflow
imposition. It’s a click away, as opposed to stopping a patient care
encounter to go do something in [the system and] return. And it’s TMA’S 2017 SUCCESS:
not because it’s an unreasonable imposition. It just comes on top A LOOK BACK
of every other reasonable imposition that takes away from doctors’
time with a patient.”
Here are several of medicine’s priority
bills that became law following the
2017 Texas Legislature:
MEDICAID • Senate Bill 507 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-

PARTICIPATION North Richland Hills) greatly expanded the

IN TEXAS: availability of balance billing mediation.

BY THE NUMBERS • Senate Bill 680 by Senator Hancock and
sponsored in the House by Rep. Greg Bon-
nen, MD (R-Friendswood), allowed a
physician to continue prescribing a med-
Increasing physician participation in
ication that’s effective for a patient even
Medicaid is one of TMA’s top priorities.
if an insurer’s step therapy protocols call
According to TMA’s 2016 Survey of
for the patient to switch medications.
Texas Physicians:
• Senate Bill 1107 by Sen. Charles Schwert-
• 45% of physicians treat Medicaid man-
ner, MD (R-Georgetown), established a
aged care organization (MCO) patients
statutory definition and framework for
telemedicine in Texas and clarified that the
• 60% of physicians who don’t accept
standard of care for telemedicine services
those patients avoid doing so because
is the same as for a traditional, in-person
of inadequate payment
medical visit.
• 20% say they would accept more Medi-
• Senate Bill 1148 by Sen. Dawn Buckingham,
caid MCO patients, and 35% say they
MD (R-Lakeway), eliminated many of the
would consider it if payment rates in-
burdens associated with onerous mainte-
creased by 5 to 10 percent
nance of certification requirements.
• 55% say they’re likely to accept more
• Senate Bill 62 by Rep. Tom Craddick (R-
Medicaid patients if the program de-
Midland) banned texting while driving
creased its administrative burden
statewide.

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