Texas Medical Association Medical Student Section

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Texas Medical AssociationMedical Student Section

• Continuing the Success
• Recap of Student Grassroots Action in 2005

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Introduction - Texas Legislature

• Legislative Sessions
• 2nd Tuesday of January every odd year for 140
  days (2005 79th Legislative Session)
• House of Representatives
• 150 members (83 Republicans, 67 Democrats)
• Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland)
• Senate
• 31 Senators (19 Republicans, 12 Democrats)
• President of the Senate Lt Gov David Dewhurst

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Medicines Top Issues in the Last Session (2005)

• Tax on Physician Practices
• We oppose because it is bad public policy to tax
  healthcare
• Physician practices are not like other businesses
  (we are subject to set fees from a third party)
• Physicians already subsidize the state over 1
  BILLION a year by performing healthcare services
  at little or no repayment
• Outcome Not yet resolved (Idea of credits for
  physicians)
• Scope of Practice
• Optometrists wanted to perform laser surgery,
  Podiatrists wanted to operate above the foot
• TMA educated members of the Legislature about
  education, training experience for physicians
  vs. allied health professionals
• We oppose scope expansion for the under-trained
  as this is a patient safety issue
• Outcome No scope expansions

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Medicines Top Issues in the Last Session (2005)

• Network Adequacy (Balance Billing)
• Health plans wanted to set caps on physician
  fees, or not allow them to bill a patient for
  out-of-network services
• TMA educated legislators the issues is really the
  health plans not having adequate networks
• Outcome No prohibition on balance billing
• Physician Ownership
• Legislation was filed that would not allow
  physicians to own any equipment/facility (lab,
  x-ray, sonogram, surgery center)
• TMA has policy requiring full disclosure of
  ownership by physician to patient
• Often, physician-owned equipment/facilities have
  higher patient satisfaction and convenience
• Outcome No prohibition on physician ownership

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Medicines Top Issues in the Last Session (2005)

• Graduate Medical Education (GME)
• Residency spots in Texas were underfunded
• With a shortage of physicians, we need more s to
  fund the slots for residency training
• What we did!
• Issue was adopted by MSS
• Letter writing campaign to Legislators
• Students participated in grassroots lobbying -
  First Tuesdays at the Capitol
• Success - First ever GME formula funding and 25
  million in new funds!

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Continuing the Success

• Even though the next session isnt until 2007,
  you as a medical student can still be an
  advocate
• Five actions YOU can take now
• Invite a legislator to be a guest at a meeting
• Make an appointment with a legislator in their
  district office
• Get involved in your County Medical Society
• Meet a legislator for coffee (or lunch or dinner)
• Build a personal relationship with your
  legislators

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For more information or questions, contact

• Scott Chaiet
• Baylor College of Medicine
• AMA-MSS
• 1936 Dryden 1
• Houston, TX 77030
• 832.265.2238
• scottchaiet_at_yahoo.com
• Staff contacts
• Ashley King
• TMA Medical Student Section
• Program Coordinator
• 401 West 15th Street
• Austin, TX 78701
• 512.370.1402
• ashley.king_at_texmed.org

• Erin L. Angelos
• TX Tech School of Medicine
• TMA-MSS
• 5504 Timberwolf Dr.
• El Paso, TX 79903
• 915.241.5768
• erin.angelos_at_ttuhsc.edu
• Hilary Dennis
• Associate Director
• TMA Legislative Affairs
• 401 West 15th Street
• Austin, TX 78701
• 512.370.1370 or 512.923.1119
• hilary.dennis_at_texmed.org