UNDER THE ROTUNDA
Call it what you like — “Last Thursday at the Capitol” or “A Special Thursday Edition of First Tuesdays at the Capitol” or “TexMed at the Capitol” — the bottom line is: Texas physicians are back at the State Capitol today. Taking advantage of TexMed 2015 being in Austin this year, TMA leaders organized an extra chance for physicians to be lobbyists for a day. More than 100 physicians, medical students, and TMA Alliance members will travel to the Capitol today to lobby on these issues:
And physicians will be back next week. The final, for-real, First Tuesdays at the Capitol for 2015 is Tuesday, May 5. Register today.
BILL UPDATE
Heads up: Two TMA-backed vaccination bills are moving again. The Texas House is scheduled to take up HBs 2171 and 2474 tomorrow and Saturday. TMA is asking physicians to urge House members to vote for both bills, especially since antivaccine groups are putting on a full-court press to spread misinformation about the good the bills would accomplish. Use the TMA Grassroots Action Center to contact your state representative today.
The House-Senate Conference Committee negotiating the final version of the 2016-17 state budget is heating up. As we told you yesterday, TMA and six other medical societies sent a letter urging the conferees to “craft a cost-effective budget that addresses Texas’ significant health care needs.” We’ve posted a page on the TMA website that lists the names and contacts of the budget negotiators and a synopsis of the association’s key budget priorities. Let them know what you think.
TMA IN ACTION
More than 2,500 TMA physician leaders and other health care experts and members of organized medicine assemble in Austin beginning today for TexMed 2015, TMA’s annual conference and expo. The TMA House of Delegates convenes tomorrow to develop critical health care policies that will effect positive change for Texas patients and patient care. If you can’t be here in person Friday afternoon for General Session Keynote Speaker Ira Byock, MD, you can tune in to his live stream discussion of “the sorry state of dying in America” at 4 pm (CT) on TMA TV.
The Texas House today will honor Larry Driver, MD. The Houston anesthesiologist conceived the idea for TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program in 1994, which recently reached the milestone of putting its 200,000th helmet on a Texas child. Rep. J.D. Sheffield, DO (R-Gatesville), will read the resolution honoring Dr. Driver, TMA, and the efforts of TMA physicians, their spouses, and medical students who have sponsored helmet giveaways.
PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
The physician of the day at the Capitol is Lesca Hadley, MD, of Cleburne. Dr. Hadley graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She is a member of TMA and the Johnson County Medical Society.
WHAT WE ARE READING
Dallas-based Teladoc sues Texas Medical Board over prescription ruling ― The Dallas Morning News
Statewide Study Illustrates Physician Shortage Across Specialties In Urban, Rural Communities ― D Healthcare Daily
Texas Medical Association Issues Legislative Budget Recommendations ― D Healthcare Daily
Texas may give tax breaks to companies that work with universities, doctors ― Austin Business Journal
An Obamacare Payment Reform Success Story – One Health System, Two Procedures ― Kaiser Health News
