Interim Session 2003

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians’ Board of Directors met and dealt with several key issues at the TAFP Interim Session held in Round Rock March 7-10. Below is a summary of these issues. For a complete copy of the minutes, contact John Ashbaugh at (512) 329-8666 ext. 16 or at jashbaugh@tafp.org 

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

Approved that if a Scholarship Committee or Chapter sponsoring a scholarship makes no response for 24 months with any activity, the Foundation will take it over. If the Chapter becomes active again, and requests the right to administer the scholarship, the Foundation will hand it back.

Approved conducting a trial phone bank at the TAFP office during the Interim Session in 2004 on Friday night. Board members will be required to make ten calls to colleagues requesting funds for the foundation. For $500 they may opt out from making calls.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Approved that the TAFP proceed with legislative issues in this session that affect primary care in coordination with the Primary Care Coalition (PCC) and authorize our lobbyist and lobbyists from the other members of the PCC to represent us all as a whole on these issues.

Approved that the TAFP provide $500 for the AAFP Conference on Patient Education.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Approved TAFP investing the proceeds from the sale of the TAFP Walsh Tarlton Building and the funds in the current TAFP Building Fund into real estate investment trusts managed by Dr. Stephen Benold and a three-member subcommittee of the Finance Committee: Erica Swegler, M.D., Del Barker Stigler, M.D., and Warren Longmire, M.D.

Approved increasing membership dues effective 2004 by $20 per member to the sum of $295 per year.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Approved the submission of the names of Roland Goertz, M.D. for the position of AAFP Delegate and Justin V. Bartos, M.D. for the position of AAFP Alternate Delegate.

Approved the submission of the name of Lloyd Van Winkle, M.D. for the position of AAFP Alternate Delegate.

Approved that the TAFP will make available to the general membership information concerning opportunities to serve on AAFP commissions and committees by the most efficient means.

Approved the following slate of officers be put in nomination for vote at the 2003 Annual Session and Scientific Assembly: President-elect: Erica W. Swegler, M.D.; Vice-President: Linda M. Siy, M.D.; Treasurer: Samuel T. Coleridge, D.O.; Parliamentarian: Douglas Curran, M.D.

Approved the submission of Robert L. Hogue, M.D.  for the position of Director on the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP).

Approved the submission of Dale Moquist, M.D., and Glen Johnson, M.D. for Delegates from the AAFP to the AMA.

COMMISSION ON ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Approved the following:

1. That the TAFP set as a very high priority to advocate for continued funding for the Family Practice Statewide Preceptorship program.

2. That the Academy notify the membership as to what is at stake concerning this issue and encourage them to contact their local legislative representatives.

Approved the following:

1. That the TAFP set as a high priority to advocate for continued funding for family practice residency programs.

2. That the Academy notify the membership as to what is at stake concerning this issue and encourage them to contact their local legislative representatives.

COMMISSION ON ANNUAL SESSION AND CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

Approved the TAFP Education Mission Statement with the following changes:

“The Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) is the medical specialty society for family physicians in Texas. Planning, developing, and presenting high quality continuing medical education in compliance with the essentials of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education is the fundamental education goal of the organization. CME activities are produced by a process based on physician learning needs. This process utilizes past CME activity evaluations, member needs assessments, literature searches and direct physician input. TAFP-produced continuing medical education will provide information and activities designed to maintain and improve the skills and abilities of family physicians, other primary care physicians, and other primary care providers. TAFP CME activities will be presented in small group seminars, teleconferencing, interactive workshops, large group didactic presentations followed by time for questions and answers, and through currently available technology.”

Approved that if the 2004 Winter Symposium does not achieve a registration of 90 registrants, the Commission on Annual Session and CME should decide if the Winter Symposium would conclude prior to 2005.

Approved the CME program director fees be changed for a One-Day CME activity to $300 and a Multi- Day CME activity to $500 to be more in line with the amount of work involved at this time.

Approved the revision of the TAFP CME speaker honorarium fee structure to allow the flexibility needed for the TAFP Education program. Staff shall negotiate speaker honorarium fees that do not exceed educational grants. For speakers giving lectures not funded by education grants, staff shall negotiate the most favorable market price.

Approved the following policy change:

The following individuals and officials are exempt from paying the TAFP scientific program registration fee: TAFP President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, TAFP Life Members, spouses (not attending for credit), and medical students.

COMMISSION ON CORE DELEGATION

Approved the following resolution to the AAFP 2003 Congress of Delegates:

Whereas, Resolution 505 from the 2002 AAFP Congress of Delegates states “that the AAFP establish policy and be supportive of legislation which promotes a safe and nurturing environment, including psychological and legal security, for all children, including those of adoptive parents, regardless of their parents’ sexual orientation,” and

 

Whereas, the Resolution has ambiguous meaning and implications, and

 

Whereas, the AAFP is committed to ensuring all children’s access to health care, be it

 

RESOLVED, that current AAFP policy regarding adoption be amended to read as follows,

“The AAFP is supportive of a safe and nurturing environment, including psychological and legal security for all children, including those of adoptive and foster parents,” and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the AAFP reaffirm its commitment to provide access for all children to appropriate health care services, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the AAFP remain neutral on issues relating to the sexual orientation of adoptive parents.

COMMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND MANAGED CARE

Approved inviting an insurance representative to give a presentation on self-funded health insurance plans and defined benefit plans to the TAFP members at the next available Annual Session and Scientific Assembly.

Approved supporting the efforts of the TMA Ad Hoc Committee on Medicaid with regards to the following recommendations for improving the program:

The establishment of a preferred drug list within the Medicaid Vendor Drug Program;

The development and implementation of disease management programs to reduce costs of utilization;

The improvement of Medicaid HMO models and enhancement of the existing PCCM model;

The enhancement of Medicaid and CHIP funding to increase professional reimbursement; and

Consideration of fair and simple patient cost sharing.

Approved the TAFP reinforcing policy encouraging physicians to promote ethical behavior among themselves regarding illicit drug use and alcohol abuse.

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL AFFAIRS

Approved authorization of a sub-committee of the Commission on Public Health and Clinical Affairs to work with TAFP staff to develop a policy statement on small pox vaccinations and present it to the Executive Committee at the April meeting.

Approved supporting and advocating the concept of Universal Vaccine Purchase or other forms of bulk purchasing of vaccines.

Approved that TAFP staff provide a weekly communication to all TAFP members via e-mail concerning updates and recommendations on pending legislation.

Approved TAFP writing a letter to the Texas Education Association encouraging them to replace high fat snacks and sodas in school vending machines with healthier choices.

Approved suspending the TAFP research paper contest and use the allocated award funds for the encouragement of other scholarly activities.

Approved that the TAFP communicate with managed care companies to format provider directories in such a way as to list Family Physicians who provide maternity care under obstetric providers in addition to being listed as PCPs.

TASK FORCE ON PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Approved the development of continuous, on-going leadership programs for the general membership that take place with rotating workshops in conjunction with the TAFP CME programs.

Approved the development of a TAFP leadership mentoring list.

TASK FORCE ON MEDICAL LIABILITY

Approved providing TAFP CME programs on risk management and asset protection.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED BYLAWS CHANGE

Term of TAFP Delegates and Alternate Delegates to AAFP Congress of Delegates

CHAPTER XI Board of Directors

SUB-CHAPTER III Elected Positions

SECTION 7

The term of office of a Delegate to the AAFP shall not exceed three (3), consecutive two (2) year terms. The term of the office of Alternate Delegate to AAFP shall not exceed three (3), consecutive two (2) year terms. Nothing shall prevent an Alternate Delegate from advancing to serve as Delegate. The terms of the TAFP Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the AAFP will begin and end at the end of the AAFP Congress of Delegates.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR 

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP Bylaws at the March 8, 2003 meeting.