UNDER THE ROTUNDA
The Texas Senate passed two big budget measures today, Senate Bill 1, authored by Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), and Senate Bill 8 by Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown). SB 8 would exempt businesses that make less than $4 million annually from paying the state’s franchise tax. Senators passed the bill 24-7. Currently, only businesses making less than $1 million annually are exempt from the franchise tax. Senator Schwertner says his bill would absolve more than 61,000 Texas small businesses from paying the franchise tax. SB 1, which the Senate passed 26-5, devotes about $2.4 billion to increase homestead exemptions from school property taxes. The bill would increase each Texas homeowners’ homestead exemption to 25 percent of the state’s median home market value. That means they would pay less school property tax because the amount on which they would be taxed would decrease. Currently, Texas homeowners receive a $15,000 homestead exemption. Some estimate the larger exemption would save homeowners more than $200 per year.

TMA IN ACTION
Two physicians testified in support of Senate Bill 195 by Senator Schwertner, which would eliminate the state-controlled substance registration (CSR) for all prescribers, move the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program from the Texas Department of Public Safety to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and would require the pharmacy board to participate in a national clearinghouse. Pain management specialists C.M. Schade, MD, of Mesquite and Richard Hurley, MD, of Waco both spoke to members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dr. Schade said no longer requiring physicians to get a CSR would eliminate an unnecessary step for physicians. Doing so also would reduce physician prescription identity theft, and lessen the likelihood of a doctor temporarily losing hospital privileges if his or her CSR renewal was bogged down in the state system. Dr. Hurley, speaking on behalf of the Texas Pain Society, said the bill cuts bureaucratic barriers to efficiency in his office, allowing him to designate certain authorized staff to help him manage prescriptions for certain opioids.

FEDERAL UPDATE: SGR Vote Tomorrow; Call Congress Today
A floor vote is scheduled for tomorrow in the U.S. House of Representatives on HR 2, the Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act. The bill would eliminate the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula immediately, and extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years. U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-Lewisville), is the lead House author. The bill has strong support from both Republican and Democratic leaders in the House; support is building in the Senate. “Our goal is to flood the House of Representatives’ phone lines so HR 2 passes by a landslide margin,” TMA President Austin King, MD, said in an e-mail to members. “That will send it to the Senate with enough momentum to pass before April 1, when a 22.4-percent Medicare pay cut is scheduled to kick in.” Contact your senators and representative and urge them to support SGR repeal in HR 2 by:

• Calling via the American Medical Association’s toll-free Physicians Grassroots Hotline at (800) 833-6354.
• Using the TMA Grassroots Hotline to send an urgent email.
• Contacting legislators directly through their own social media channels, then sharing your message with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
The physician of the day at the Capitol is Elise Sadoun, MD, of Sugar Land. Dr. Sadoun graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is a member of TMA and the Harris County Medical Society.

WHAT WE ARE READING
Obamacare Cash Helps Pay State's Medicaid Bill – The Texas Tribune
Lawmakers consider new protections against surprise medical bills – Houston Chronicle
In rare deal, Boehner, Pelosi tout wins for seniors, doctors – Associated Press
Affordable Care Act hasn't overwhelmed doctors, study says – USA Today
2 Sides Face Off Over Vaccines In Public Schools – KEYE Austin
House Committee Considers E-Cigarette Ban for Minors – The Texas Tribune