BCMS Chief Governmental and
Community Relations Officer
Several BCMS physicians
participated May 7 in the final First Tuesdays visit to the Capitol
for this legislative session.
Many thanks to the following
physicians, along with a student member and practice administrator,
who gathered with their colleagues from around the state last week
in Austin: Suresh Dutta, MD; Robert Frolichstein, MD; Michael
Guirl, MD; Jim Humphreys, MD; Vijay Koli, MD; BCMS President
Gabriel Ortiz, MD; Rajam Ramamurthy, MD; Janet Realini, MD;
third-year medical student Leonel Lopez; and Rick White, practice
administrator for Greater San Antonio Emergency
Physicians.
Participants met with all 14
offices of the Bexar County elected officials to discuss the
most urgent bills of importance to medicine still making their way
through the legislative process.
As of this writing, two important
bills were on the way to Gov. Rick Perry's desk: SB 166 by
Sen. Robert Deuell, MD (R-Greenville) and Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San
Antonio) allows physicians to check in patients using the
electronic strip on the back of their Texas driver's license. SB 945 by
Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) and Rep. Sarah Davis (R-West
University Place) requires physicians and non-physicians 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.
Stay tuned to this column for
more updates as the 83rd Legislative Session continues. The
last day of the 83rd Session is Monday, May 27.
Photo above:
Members of the BCMS First Tuesdays delegation pause for a photo
with Rep. Joe Farias (District 118) outside the House Chamber on
May 7.
For more information and local discussion on the 83rd
Session and other legislative advocacy and socioeconomics issues,
consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics
Committee. For information, contact Mary Nava at mary.nava@bcms.org.
