THE WEEKLY DOSE

March 3, 2019

Vol. 8, No. 9

In this Issue…
Legislative Update
BCMS Wine Tour
Order New Prescription Forms
Championing Immunizations
BCMS Auto Program

Support BCMS Circle of Friends Sponsors
TMLT
New York Life
Synergy Federal Credit Union

Legislative Update

BCMS physicians and Alliance members hard at work during March First Tuesday

Last week, BCMS physicians and Alliance members participated in several meetings with legislators and staff during the March 5 First Tuesdays visit to the Capitol. With the legislative session now in full swing and committee hearings taking place, a number of topics were discussed, including: Medicaid; graduate medical education (GME); physician loan repayment; Medicaid reimbursement; scope of practice; surprise billing; insurance network adequacy; prior authorizations; maternal mortality; vaccinations; and raising the tobacco age to 21.

Many thanks to the attendees, who made our visits at the Capitol a success: Physicians – Michael Battista, MD; Pam Hall, MD; Bill Hinchey, MD; Leah Jacobson, MD; Alex Kenton, MD; Sanjiv Kumar, MD; Jesse Moss, Jr., MD; John Nava, MD; James Saucedo, MD and Jayesh Shah, MD and Alliance members – James Duerr and Jenny Shepherd.

The next First Tuesdays is on April 2. We encourage all our members to get involved and participate in at least one First Tuesday this session. To register, please visit: www.texmed.org/FirstTuesdays

For local discussion on these and other legislative advocacy topics, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics Committee by contacting Mary Nava, chief government affairs officer at mary.nava@bcms.org.

BCMS Wine Tour

Order New Prescription Forms

Order Texas’ New Prescription Forms Soon To Stay Compliant

If you are not e-prescribing controlled substances (EPCS), you can still use official C-II prescription forms in Texas. But be aware that on Sept. 1, 2018, the official paper forms began including additional security features to prevent fraud. Effective June 1, 2019, all official prescription forms ordered prior to Sept. 1, 2018, will no longer be valid. Order prescription forms early to avoid running out.

Championing Immunizations

VIDEO: Mumps Virus Causes Puffy Cheeks and Sometimes, Serious Complications

Editor's Note: This video is part of a monthly Texas Medical Association series highlighting contagious diseases that childhood and adult vaccinations can prevent.

BCMS Auto Program