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TRENDING TOPICS
83rd Legislative Session Wrap-up
Governor signs into law TMA-backed legislation
BCMS-supported DPS renewal bill becomes law
By Mary E. Nava, MBA
BCMS Chief Governmental and Community Relations Officer
Now
that the 83rd Legislative Session has wrapped up, here
is what you have all been waiting for: the highlights of
TMA-backed legislation that has been signed
into
law by Gov. Rick Perry.
Effective immediately
SB 63 by Sen.
Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) and Rep. J.D. Sheffield, DO
(R-Gatesville), which allows minors who are pregnant or who are parents
to
consent to their own vaccinations.
SB 1221 by Sen. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) and Rep. John Smithee
(R-Amarillo), similar to the silent PPO bill; stops Medicaid HMOs from
selling
or
trading physician discounted rates.
Effective Sept. 1, 2013
SB 64 by Sen. Nelson and Rep. John Zerwas, MD (R-Simonton),
which requires licensed child care centers to create an immunization
policy for their staff who work with children.
SB 166 by Sen. Robert Deuell, MD (R-Greenville), and Rep. Lyle
Larson (R-San Antonio), which allows physicians to check in patients
using the electronic strip on the back of their Texas driver's license.
SB 644 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Rep. Zerwas, which
creates one form for prescription preauthorizations.
SB 646 by Sen. Deuell and Rep. Elliot Naishtat (D-Austin), which
amends current law relating to court-ordered outpatient mental health
services.
SB 822, the silent PPO legislation by Sen. Charles Schwertner,
MD (R-Georgetown), and Rep. Craig Eiland (D-Galveston), which
establishes fair and transparent insurance markets and subjects the
companies that sell, lease or share physician-contracted discounts to
oversight by TDI.
SB 1150 by Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and
Rep. Bobby Guerra (R-McAllen), which requires HHSC to implement a
"provider protection plan" under Medicaid HMOs or other
arrangements and incorporate the plan into the contracts between HHSC
and the health plans.
SB 1216 by Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) and Rep. Sarah Davis
(R-West University Place), which creates one form for medical and
health services preauthorizations.
SB 1643 by Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) and Rep. Carol
Alvarado (D-Houston), which improves access to prescription information
by physicians.
SB 1803 by Sen. Huffman and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham),
which improves due process and expediency when a physician is accused
of Medicaid fraud or overpayments; clarifies the definition of
"credible allegation of fraud;" establishes timelines for the
OIG to notify doctors of an investigation and hold payments in the
process.
Effective Nov. 1, 2013
SB 406 by Sen. Nelson and Rep. Kolkhorst, which establishes a
more streamlined and less bureaucratic system of supervision and
strengthens physician-led patient care teams; strengthens the
partnership between physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and
physician assistants; continues to recognize that independent
prescribing is the practice of medicine.
Effective Jan. 1, 2014
SB 945 by Sen. Nelson and Rep. Davis, which requires physicians
and nonphysicians to wear a photo ID badge clearly stating to patients
their name, department of the hospital they are associated with, title,
and status as a student, intern, trainee or resident.
HB 1803 by Rep. Bill Callegari (R-Katy) and Sen. Huffman, which
allows for the renewal of the DPS Controlled Substances Registration
(CSR) permit to occur every two years instead of annually and the state
will process the application at the same time as the renewal of the
medical license. Physicians can reapply for the permit
electronically with the TMB. Congratulations to Richard Benedikt, MD, for his
leadership in developing the BCMS resolution adopted during TexMed 2012
that has now become law.
Look for a full report on the outcome of the 83rd
Legislative Session
in the August issue of Texas Medicine.
For local discussion on legislation passed during the
83rd Legislative Session and other advocacy topics, consider joining
the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics Committee by contacting Mary
Nava at mary.nava@bcms.org.
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