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Capitol Update

During the 80th Legislative Session, TAFP Communications expanded its coverage of Texas politics to bring you the Capitol Update weekly eNewsletter and Capitol Report weekly video Webcast.

June 5, 2007
Legislature concludes amid turmoil

Lege closes; CHIP bill, managed care reforms, Medicaid pay hike all pass

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

May 22, 2007
Time is running out for budget deliberations

Senate committee passes CHIP bill | Residency program funding study passes committee | Vaccine distribution bill heard by Public Health |
Two managed care reforms await Perry’s signature | HIT bill headed to Senate floor | Thanks to the Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

May 11, 2007
House deadline kills hundreds of bills

Conferees begin budget work | Senate votes to look into funding new residency positions | Thanks to this week’s Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

May 4, 2007
Deadlines loom in the last month of the session

Senate passes transparency bill | House passes tax clean-up bill | Senate committee hears bill on physician ranking systems | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

April 26, 2007
Wellness and prevention take center stage

HIT is hot topic for Public Health Committee | “Smart card” bill passes House | Senate names budget conferees | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

April 19, 2007
Senate passes Medicaid reform bill

Managed care bills make their way through the process | Senate passes budget, no increases for GME | House Insurance Committee passes “smart card” bill | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day, more volunteers needed to finish the session

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

April 13, 2007
Managed care reform bills gather momentum
in House and Senate

Agreement in Frew suit means 25-percent raise in Medicaid provider
pay | Senate passes budget, details to be worked out in conference committee | House committee debates Medicaid provider database | TAFP speaks out against reducing physician supervision of NPs | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

April 5, 2007
House passes CHIP enhancement bill

Medicaid reform bill voted out of committee | Federal hearing draws near in Frew v. Hawkins | House passes expedited credentialing bill | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

March 30, 2007
House passes $150-billion budget

State suspends enrollment in Medicaid managed care program | CHIP restoration bill rescheduled for House debate | Youth fitness initiative advances to Senate floor | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

March 23, 2007
House committee passes budget

CHIP reform stalls in House| Fair contracting bill gets first
hearing |Committee approves “smart card” bill| Thanks to these
Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

March 16, 2007
Committees near end of state budget deliberations

Sen. Nelson tackles Medicaid reform | Pathology bill heard in House committee | Update: Provider flu vaccine bill voted out of the Senate | Managed care reform on House committee docket for Monday | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

March 9, 2007
CHIP reform bill passed by House Committee

Worries over federal lawsuit complicate health spending deliberations | Senator files TAFP’s fair contracting bill | Committee considers “silent PPOs,” insurance ID cards and physician credentialing | TAFP fights Anatomical Pathology Legislation | TAFP comments on draft transparency bill | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

March 1, 2007
TAFP’s fair contracting bill filed

Nelson announces Medicaid reform bill | Dukes’ bill creates online Medicaid provider list | House Insurance to hear managed care bills
on March 5 | Contact your legislators on budget items | Thanks to
these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

February 23, 2007
Bill blocking mandatory HPV vaccination passes
to House floor

Bill could reduce physician supervision of NPs and PAs | Funding for medical priorities still in the air | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

Capitol UpdateView this edition of TAFP's video Webcast, Capitol Report.

February 16, 2007
HPV vaccine debate continues, physician
educates lawmakers

Bill to extend end-of-life care indefinitely | Tell legislators to put
their money where the need is | Join other white coats to lobby at
the Capitol | Spots still open for Physician of the Day, dates listed below

February 9, 2007
Health care takes center stage in governor’s address

TAFP fights for increased Medicaid rates | Measures taken to support graduate medical education | Lawmakers focus on public health | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

February 5, 2007
House fails to suspend rules on hearing bills

BCBS agrees to TAFP request: Identify family physicians who provide obstetrics | Appropriations Committee puts health care funding on the agenda | Harris and Woolley file “smart card” bills | TAFP publishes Issue Briefs at www.tafp.org | House committee appointments announced | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

January 26, 2007
Perry hints at Medicaid reform plan

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched | House committee appointments announced | Eiland files bill to protect physicians from health plans’ unscrupulous practices | Thanks to these Physicians
of the Day

January 19, 2007
Wintery Blast Cools Activity in Austin

Sen. Hinojosa challenges Governor to solve Texas’ health care crisis in op-ed | State senator and family physician Bob Deuell files bill on flu vaccine distribution | Thanks to these Physicians of the Day

January 12, 2007
Legislature Begins with State Budget Quandary

High Drama in the House