|
A
Call
to
Action!
COLLEAGUES
-
As
we
enter
2006,
we
family
physicians
find
ourselves
facing
one
of
our
greatest
challenges
ever.
The
inequities
in
Medicare
and
Medicaid
reimbursement,
as
well
as
proposed
cuts
to
both
systems
threaten
our
patients
and
our
practices
more
than
ever
before.
As
more
and
more
corporations
reduce
medical
benefits
–
or
eliminate
them
altogether
–
our
position
as
front-line,
primary
care
physicians
becomes
even
more
precarious.
I
do
not
see
a
knight
in
shining
armor
on
the
horizon
ready
to
champion
us
on
the
field
of
battle.
I
believe
that
only
we
can
make
a
difference
for
ourselves
and
our
patients.
If
we
want
fair
laws,
then
we
must
elect
fair
lawmakers,
and
2006
presents
us
with
that
opportunity.
We
must
seize
that
opportunity
if
we
are
to
have
any
hope
of
our
voices
being
heard
in
Washington
and
Austin.
This
year,
the
entire
Texas
Congressional
delegation
is
up
for
election.
So
is
the
entire
Texas
House
of
Representatives,
half
of
the
Texas
Senate
and
numerous
members
of
the
judiciary.
We
will
elect
a
governor
and
lieutenant
governor.
The
outcome
of
each
of
these
elections
will
impact
our
patients
and
our
practices.
And
moreso
than
any
other
specialty,
family
physicians
MUST
get
involved!
There
are
many
ways
you
can
become
involved
in
the
political
process
this
year,
from
participating
on
the
grassroots
level
in
your
community
to
helping
raise
campaign
contributions
for
the
candidates
of
your
choice.
But
the
very
first
step
all
of
us
should
take
is
to
join
and
become
active
in
TAFP-PAC,
our
political
action
committee.
Over
the
years,
TAFP-PAC
has
been
part
of
some
of
the
most
dramatic
political
victories
in
Texas
history
and
has
made
a
positive
impact
advocating
for
Texas
patients,
physicians
and
the
medical
profession
as
a
whole
in
the
Texas
Legislature
and
U.S.
Congress,
including
the
battle
for
meaningful
tort
reform,
victory
over
the
tobacco
industry
and
HMO
reform.
TAFP-PAC
is
now
ready
to
continue
the
fight
for
you
and
your
patients
during
this
election
cycle
and
next
year’s
Legislative
sessions.
But
the
only
way
TAFP-PAC
will
be
successful
in
the
future
is
with
your
support
NOW.
I
urge
all
of
you
to
visit
the
new
TAFP-PAC
website
at
www.tafppac.org
and
be
sure
to
view
TAFP-PAC’s
new
video,
“We
Did
It
Before
and
We
Can
Do
It
Again.”
You’ll
see
that
we
are,
indeed,
one
of
the
strongest
forces
in
organized
medicine
today,
With
your
participation,
we
will
only
grow
stronger.
We
did
it
before
and
we
will
do
it
again!
Thank
you
for
your
continued
membership.
Please
continue
to
share
your
thoughts,
concerns
and
frustrations
with
me
by
e-mailing
president@tafp.org.
Sincerely,
Tim
Coleridge,
D.O.
President
|
