Proposed business tax would include medical practices

Gov. Rick Perry's Tax Reform Committee, lead by former Texas comptroller John Sharp, recently released a proposal to reform public school financing. The plan includes reducing property taxes by one-third and replacing them, in part, with expanded business taxes, a $1-per pack tobacco tax and a portion of the state's $4.3 billion surplus. This release marks the beginning of the tax reform discussion that will be the main topic of the special session of the Texas Legislature to convene on April 17.

Under the proposed plan, most companies and partnerships would pay a 1-percent tax on their gross receipts minus employee compensation and benefits, which includes physician salary and benefits. Retailers and wholesalers would pay a half-percent tax after the cost of goods is deducted. The plan exempts sole proprietorships, general partnerships and businesses earning less than $300,000 a year.

The current political climate makes it highly unlikely that many physician practices will escape the revised tax plan. TAFP continues to explain to legislators that physicians cannot pass a new tax on to patients because, for the most part, their price structure is set by third-party payers. TAFP also argues that physicians already pay a substantial "tax" by providing uncompensated care. There is strong support in the Legislature for the inclusion of a tax credit in the plan for physicians based on the amount of Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP care they deliver.

To better advocate for family physicians’ practices, TAFP President Tim Coleridge, D.O., sent out a brief e-mail survey about this issue on Wed. April 5. If you haven't completed the survey, please do so. Having that credible data will help your Academy protect your practice from an onerous tax. E-mail Tom Banning, TAFP Director of Legislative and Public Affairs, with additional questions, comments or thoughts.

There are a few dates left to volunteer to serve at the Capitol as the Physician of the Day during the upcoming special session. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Paige Newman.

AAFP's TransforMed to test New Model of family medicine

On April 3, a panel of health care experts announced the launch of an $8-million national practice redesign initiative that aims to restructure and improve the quality of U.S. health care, starting with family medicine. TransforMED, an initiative of AAFP, uses a patient-centered model of care to support a strong medical home. Staff will work with a diverse group of 36 practices, 18 facilitated practices and 18 self-directed practices, for a 30-month period starting June 2006.

One Texas clinic -- Trinity Clinic Whitehouse in Whitehouse, Texas -- was selected for the project. The clinic staff and practicing physicians, including TAFP members Melissa Gerdes, M.D., Amy Mullins, M.D., and Janet Hurley, M.D., have already implemented several TransforMED concepts such as open-access scheduling, an electronic health record system, electronic prescribing, Web-based information sharing with patients, and use of clinical practice guidelines and decision support software.

To qualify for the program, participants had to have a commitment to practice transformation, the evaluation and dissemination processes and to working collaboratively with TransforMED. They form a real-life learning lab that strives to combine traditional family medicine values with new technology. Each practice staff, from receptionists to physicians, will go through a comprehensive evaluation and participate in the evolution of the model of care. Then, TransforMED will develop products and services to assist other family medicine practices in bridging the gap between past practices and a 21st-century patient-delivery system to meet current needs.

The partnership with TransforMED comes after years of groundwork laid by the Future of Family Medicine project, which set aggressive goals for health care improvement. The mission of TransforMED is to lead and empower family physicians in implementing the New Model of care, as discussed in the Future of Family Medicine project.

AAFP past president Jim Martin, M.D., of San Antonio compared the AAFP's struggle to improve health care to the "fairytale" of the hen and the grains of wheat. The hen went through all the steps to cultivate, harvest and process the wheat, asking for help from all of the barnyard animals. They refused each time, saying that they were too busy, so the hen did the entire task herself and took the final product—a loaf of bread—back home to her family. "The American Academy of Family Physicians took very much the same road," Martin told the National Press Club. "They asked for help, and when it didn't come they said, 'we will do this ourselves.' The difference is the loaf of bread that we will get from this project will be for all Americans."

Additional resources:

Access the archived Web cast and a list of participating practices through AAFP's Web site. Also available is a detailed map showing the national distribution of chosen TransforMED practice locations.

View more information, updates, goals and supporters of the Future of Family Medicine project on the FFM Web site.

Read more about the TransforMED initiatives and all of the details on AAFP's practice management page.

Concierge physicians to meet in Chicago

If you are among the growing number of physicians conducting or considering a concierge, retainer, boutique, retail or cash-only medical practice, then head up to Chicago for the 3rd Annual Conference of Concierge physicians May 3-5. These unique practice models tout a more personalized, proactive and preventative form of medicine to enhance the patient-physician relationship.

While at the conference, hosted by Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design, participants will attend lectures and workshops presented by medical, business, insurance and government experts. Topics include the status of concierge care and consumer-driven health care, in-office computer use, ethical and social issues and other helpful topics that target both retainer fee beginners and long-time practitioners.

For more information on the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design or to download the 2006 brochure, visit the SIMPD Web site.

Volunteer for TAFP's summer safety campaign

You can help protect kids in your community from head injury while promoting family medicine at the same time by signing up to participate in TAFP's summer safety campaign. TAFP's goal is to help coordinate 25 to 30 bicycle helmet giveaway events during June — National Safety Month — by recruiting members to take part in Texas Medical Association's Hard Hats for Little Heads program.

New tools are available on TAFP's Web site to make your involvement even easier. Reference the volunteer memo, model press release, printable posters or event-planning timeline, so that you can stay on track and make sure your event goes off without a hitch.

Promote bicycle safety and family medicine in your community by volunteering to host an event. For more information or to volunteer for Hard Hats for Little Heads, contact Kate McCann at kmccann@tafp.org or (512) 329-8666 ext. 16.

Get involved with Cover the Uninsured Week

With nearly 46 million Americans lacking health coverage, the issue of decreasing access to medical care is a growing concern among business, medical and government groups. For this reason, several organizations have joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the 2006 Cover the Uninsured Week, to take place May 1-7, 2006.

During Cover the Uninsured Week, organizers encourage participation in community events during the week and to e-mail congressional representatives through an interactive Web site. The campaign will work with uninsured adults and children to determine eligibility for public coverage programs and get them enrolled in free or low-cost programs. Representatives from across the nation will also gather in Washington, D.C., to attend forums and urge lawmakers to make health coverage a top priority.

For more information on getting involved with Cover the Uninsured Week in your community or Washington, D.C., visit their Web site.

Register now for two excellent TAFP Symposia at TAFP.org

We're less than a month away from TAFP's Primary Care Update. If you're planning to be at TMA's TexMed in Houston, you don't want to miss this one-day conference designed especially for primary care physicians. Get 6 hours of CME for only $20!

While you're on TAFP's Web site, go ahead and register for the premier family medicine conference in Texas, TAFP's 57th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly. On the site you can find an up-to-date CME schedule, workshop descriptions, hotel and city information and an advance peek at special events. To register for Annual Session by phone, or for more information, please call Ann Maldonado at (512) 329-8666, ext. 36.

Make your mark on family medicine: join a TAFP committee or commission

Help determine the direction of Family Medicine by signing up to serve on one of TAFP’s committee or commissions. The Texas Academy of Family Physicians relies on the strong foundation set by its members. TAFP committee and commission members form the infrastructure of the Academy by shaping policy and making recommendations that keep the organization at the forefront of the specialty. Go to the “Make Your Mark” page of www.tafp.org to indicate on which TAFP committees and commissions you would be willing to serve. Please respond by April 28, 2006 to ensure that your request is reviewed during our upcoming appointment process.