BCMS Chief Governmental and
Community Relations Officer
With just 43 days left in the
83rd Legislative Session, things are moving at a very fast pace at
the Capitol. On April 4, the Texas House passed a two-year
state budget of nearly $194 billion. Now, the House and
Senate will each appoint five members to a conference committee,
whose mission will be to hammer out the differences between the
House and Senate spending plans.
TMA in
support:
On the Senate side, SB 822 by
Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown), was heard and approved
in the Senate State Affairs Committee on April 8. This
legislation would put into place a needed law to regulate silent
PPOs. HB 620 is the companion bill to SB 822 by Rep. Craig
Eiland (D-Galveston), which passed out of the House Insurance
Committee during the first week in April. On April 9, the
Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on SB
1610, also by Dr. Schwertner; this bill offers targeted
amendments that maintain the strength of the privacy protections of
HB 300 by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), which passed in 2011,
but would clarify and simplify the process of complying with the
law. HB 300 enacted a new state law protecting
the privacy of Texans' medical records, but it unintentionally
introduced questions for healthcare professionals as they work to
comply with the law's requirements.
TMA in
opposition:
Also on April 9, the Senate
Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on SB 1013 by
Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood); this bill would allow
pharmacists to vaccinate children 7 years of age and older, and
would undermine the purpose of medical homes, essential for
children in this age group.
The Senate Jurisprudence
Committee heard testimony on SB 1193 by Sen. Donna Campbell, MD
(R-New Braunfels); this bill requires the Texas Medical Board (TMB)
to notify a physician of a complaint filed with the board, provide
a copy of the complaint, and identify who filed the complaint and
what physician reviewers are involved. SB 1193 could allow
bad doctors to bully and intimidate patients, nurses and other
healthcare staff and colleagues from filing valid complaints with
TMB. It also could allow bad doctors to bully and
intimidate expert physicians from providing quality peer review of
TMB complaints. TMA maintains that a strong and fair TMB
protects patients, upholds high ethical standards for physicians,
helps preserve Texas' critical 2003 healthcare tort reforms, and
maintains the professional image of all Texas physicians.
'Physician of
the Day' at the Capitol
THANK YOU to the following BCMS
members who have participated as "Physician of the
Day" at the Capitol during the 83rd Legislative Session:
Mitch
Finnie, MD; Francisco Barrera, MD; Michael Dominguez, MD;
and BCMS
President Gabriel Ortiz, MD.
Physician participants volunteer
to spend a day at the Capitol's clinic. Daily coverage schedules
are organized through the offices of the Texas Academy of Family
Practice. Additionally, physician participants are recognized
by the members of the Texas House and Senate during the morning
sessions of each of the respective chambers of the Legislature.
"It was a lot of
fun," Dr. Ortiz said. "Clinic is from 9 a.m. to
about 4:30 p.m. I worked with a nurse practitioner who has
been there about 20 years. Most of the patients we saw were
staff, though we did see a few legislators and a lobbyist as
well. Visits were usually simple and quick. Charting was
easy -- on paper; no EMRs. The staff and legislators we
saw were very appreciative that we were there. I was
introduced to the House and then the Senate. Each gave a
five-minute speech about me while I stood in front. They
really made me feel welcomed. It was a fun day, and I'm going
to sign up again."
Stay tuned to this column for
more updates on the status of bills and other activities as the
83rd Legislative Session continues.
For local discussion on the 83rd Legislative Session,
First Tuesdays trips to the Capitol and other legislative and
socioeconomic topics, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and
Socioeconomics Committee by contacting Mary Nava at mary.nava@bcms.org.
