Annual Session 2007 Minutes in Brief
The Texas Academy of Family Physicians’ Board of Directors met July 28-29, 2007 to hear reports and recommendations from TAFP’s committees, commissions and sections. Below are highlights of the meeting. For a complete copy of the minutes, contact Kathy McCarthy at (512) 329-8666, ext. 14 or kmccarthy@tafp.org.
Executive Committee
The Board approved a plan to hold a strategic planning meeting in September 2007. In anticipation of longtime Executive Director Jim White’s retirement, the Board officially appointed Tom Banning to be TAFP’s Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President effective Oct. 1, 2007. They also donated presidential travel funds not used by Douglas Curran, M.D., to the Jim and Karen White Leadership Scholarship. The Board empowered Jim White to execute a sales contract with the National Procedures Institute once approved by legal counsel.
Nominating Committee The Board approved a recommendation to annex the San Gabriel Chapter into the Travis County Chapter. They also endorsed the nomination of Dale Moquist, M.D., for the AAFP Delegation to the AMA.
Commission on Academic Affairs The Board directed staff to survey all Texas family medicine residency programs concerning the impact that the new CMS-required payments to non-hospital teaching sites has or will have on each program’s financial viability, and compile the results to forward to the AAFP Advocacy center.
Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care There were no action items from the Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care but they noted in their report that a representative from RediClinic spoke to the commission regarding quality of care provided at their clinics, the effect on the health care market and RediClinic’s desire for relaxed regulations for nurse practitioners.
Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs There were no action items from the Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs but the chair noted in his report that the Commission heard reports from TMA representatives as well as Douglas Curran, M.D., who serves on the AAFP Commission on Governmental Advocacy.
Commission on Membership and Member Services There were no action items from the Commission on Membership and Member Services but the chair noted in her report that the commission discussed member recruitment ideas, and screening processes for Physician of the Day and other TAFP service opportunities.
Commission on Public Health and Clinical Affairs The Board approved a recommendation to create a sticker to promote TAFP’s participation in the Hard Hats for Little Heads program. The Board also directed staff to survey members on quality improvement activities and approved a recommendation to continue supporting the Tar Wars program.
Commission on Core Delegation The Board approved a recommendation that TAFP become a co-sponsor of a resolution to the AAFP Congress of Delegates from Florida regarding CPT E&M codes. The Board also approved two Texas resolutions regarding a managed care marketshare survey and changing membership eligibility. It also approved a resolution on condolences for the family of the late S. Perry Post, M.D.
Task Force on Private Sector Advocacy The Board approved a recommendation to look into making benchmark data available to members in some way such as through the purchase of an institutional permit.
TAFP Foundation Board of Trustees The TAFP Foundation Board of Trustees reported that they reached their fundraising goal of $25,000 for the Jim and Karen White Leadership Scholarship.
Call for Proposed Bylaws Amendments Any TAFP member wishing to submit a proposed amendment to the TAFP bylaws must submit it to Kathy McCarthy at TAFP headquarters by Dec. 15, 2007. The TAFP bylaws can be viewed on the TAFP Web site, www.tafp.org/membership/organization/bylaws.pdf.
Amendments can be e-mailed to kmccarthy@tafp.org or faxed to (512) 329-8237. Members submitting a proposed amendment must include a statement giving the rationale for the amendment.
The TAFP Bylaws Committee will review the amendments at the 2008 Interim Session meeting on March 15, 2008. The chair of the Bylaws Committee will present the proposed amendments with the recommendations of the Bylaws Committee to the Board of Directors at Interim Session. If the Board of Directors approves the amendment, it will go before the TAFP members in attendance at the TAFP Annual Business Meeting in July 2008.