CAPITOL UPDATE: Governor makes 5th state-of-the-state address

Gov. Rick Perry delivered his fifth state-of-the-state speech in the House chamber this week calling for lawmakers to hold the line on state spending. He said the current economic troubles will likely make the 81st Texas Legislature equally challenging to the 78th, when the state faced a $10 billion shortfall.

The governor said the state should help small businesses by raising the franchise-tax exemption to $1 million. To bring more businesses to Texas and create jobs, Perry proposed lawmakers put $260 million into the Texas Enterprise Fund, $203 million into the Emerging Technology Fund and use $60 million to encourage film production.

Aside from touting the benefits of medical liability tort reform passed in 2003, Perry hardly mentioned health care except for funding for cancer research and investing in adult stem cell research.

On the public health front, Perry encouraged lawmakers to address the state’s obesity epidemic. “If we don’t tackle this problem, not only will this generation of children be the first to have a shorter average lifespan than their parents, we will never get a handle on the costs of preventable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and even some forms of cancer,” Perry said.

Hinojosa files fair contracting bill

Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed a measure this week that would protect physicians from egregious contracting tactics exploited by managed care companies. The legislation is similar to the fair-contracting bill the senator supported last session.

The bill, SB 556, would require that plans disclose their fee schedules and the methodologies used to calculate those schedules to physicians with whom they contract. It would establish notification procedures for changes to contracts and allow physicians to object to those changes without fear of termination.

Public health update

The latest obesity statistics released by the Texas Health Institute and Methodist Healthcare Ministries reveals the poor state of Texas today and dire implications for the health of the state over the next 30 years. Nearly a third of adults, or 4.8 million Texans, are currently obese. That number will rise to 43 percent by 2040, or nearly 15 million people, due to the aging and changing racial and ethnic makeup of the population. Fittingly, health care costs are expected to rise in accordance with obesity rates as obesity-related disorders like diabetes, heart disease and others become more prevalent.

The Texas Public Health Coalition, of which TAFP is a charter member, has set its legislative priorities this session to focus on improving healthy eating and physical activity in Texas, improve immunization rates in Texas and make Texas smoke-free. A separate coalition, Smoke-Free Texas, held a press conference today, Jan. 29, in support of HB 5 and SB 544. These bills, brought forth by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, would make all public and indoor workplaces in Texas smoke-free, including bars and restaurants. Nationwide, 24 states have comprehensive smoke-free laws and 50 Texas cities have comprehensive or partial smoke-free laws.

Lobby for a day on TMA’s First Tuesday

This coming Tuesday, Feb. 3, is the first of four chances you have to join your colleagues at the Capitol building in support of medicine’s agenda. Put on your white coat and make your voice heard. TMA’s team of lobbyists and policy analysts will brief you in the morning and arm you with talking points, then lead you to the Capitol to meet with your representatives. For information and to register, go to TMA’s Web site.

Physician of the Day program

Thanks to this week’s Physicians of the Day: Michael Centeno, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., of San Antonio; Sandra Parker, M.D., of Fort Worth; Richard Young, M.D., of Fort Worth; and Michael Dominguez, M.D., of San Antonio.

There is still space available for TAFP members to volunteer to serve as a Physician of the Day during the 81st Texas Legislative Session. As a Physician of the Day, you’ll care for lawmakers and the staff and anyone else on the Capitol grounds in the Capitol First Aide station, and you’ll have the honor of being announced in both the Senate and the House. For more information including an online calendar of available dates and to sign up, click here.

Also, read an article written by William Longmire, M.D., and published in the Winter edition of TEXAS FAMILY PHYSICIAN magazine that tells stories from his 30 years as a Physician of the Day.