BCMS would like to recognize
those physician and Alliance representatives who participated in
the March 5 First Tuesdays visit to the Capitol: Cynthia Casteel,
MD; Jesse Moss, MD; Robert Luedecke, MD; Gabriel Ortiz, MD; Jaime
Pankowsky, MD; Janet Realini, MD; Walter Root, MD, and BCMS
Alliance President-elect Cindy Comfort.
The group visited with 13 offices
of Bexar County elected officials, including meetings with state
representatives Philip Cortez (District 117); Lyle Larson (District
122); Trey Martinez Fischer (District 116), and Justin Rodriguez
(District 125).
BCMS physicians discussed
numerous bills that are of importance to medicine.
Bills we support
include HB
620, which focuses on the issue of regulating
silent PPOs; HB
1032, which looks to establish a standardized prior
authorization form for prescription drug benefits; SB 317,
which would prohibit sugary drinks in Texas schools; SB 303,
which focuses on advance directives and end of life; HB 1803,
which would streamline and improve the process used by DPS to renew
physicians' controlled substance permits; and HB 1782, a
truth in advertising bill, which requires positive identification
name badges with credentials for healthcare practitioners.
HB 1803 and HB
1782 are of special significance for BCMS in that certain portions
of these bills cover subject areas previously presented in BCMS
resolutions submitted by Richard Benedikt, MD, and Estrella
DeForster, MD, respectively, approved by the BCMS Delegation to
TMA, and later adopted by the TMA House of Delegates during TEXMED
2012.
Bills we oppose
include SB
684, which removes the requirement for school
fitness exams and makes them optional; HB 446,
which would dictate to physicians how to practice medicine in
requiring physicians to document they counseled and provided
information on fetal alcohol syndrome to patients during their
first prenatal visit; and HB
1039, which allows direct access for physical
therapists.
PHOTO ABOVE: BCMS physicians listen as
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (District 116) shares his position on
Medicaid expansion and other issues important to medicine during
the March 5 First Tuesdays visit.
For more information and local discussion on
legislative advocacy, First Tuesdays and the 83rd Legislative
Session, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics
Committee.
For information, contact Mary Nava by email at mary.nava@bcms.org.
