TAFP premiers new season of video newscast, Capitol Report

That’s right, folks, with "sweeps week" just around the corner, TAFP’s legislative news video, Capitol Report, is back and better than ever. TAFP Communications debuted the video news Web cast in late February of 2007, ultimately releasing 16 episodes during the 80th Texas Legislature.

This session, the plans are to shoot between four and six videos and make each a little more robust. You can watch the video by clicking the Capitol Report icon to the right. This episode features interviews with Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, and TAFP member, Rebecca Gladu, M.D., associate director at the San Jacinto Family Medicine Residency Program.

TAFP calls on legislators to bring Medicaid payment rates on level with Medicare

Your Academy has joined with the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Pediatric Society in calling for parity between Medicaid payment rates and Medicare rates. The three organizations published a new issue brief entitled “Improved Rates = Improved Medicaid Access,” which explains the different levels of payment and shows the fact that increases enacted to Medicaid payment by the last Legislature served to stem the tide of physicians leaving the program. Download the new issue brief and other important advocacy tools on the Advocacy Resources page of TAFP’s Web site.

As we reported last week, TAFP member Todd Thames, M.D., director of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program in San Antonio, told members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services that Medicaid rates are still too low for many physicians to participate in the program. In his downtown San Antonio practice, Thames said he maintains a 51-percent Medicaid payer mix. He told the members that when he provides care for his adult Medicaid patients, he loses money. The payment received does not cover the costs of providing those services.

“If I’m going to continue to provide that level of Medicaid service then it means that other services that I’d like to provide my patients just aren’t possible. I simply can’t keep the doors open and keep staff employed with 50 percent Medicaid,” Thames said.

TAFP joins TMA, TPS in support of S.B. 346 and S.B. 347

Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, has filed two bills giving the state’s immunization tracking system, ImmTrac, much needed abilities. The three organizations published an issue brief in support of Senate Bill 346 and S.B. 347. You can download it and other important advocacy tools on the Advocacy Resources page of TAFP’s Web site.

According to the issue brief, “S.B. 346 will enable physicians and other health care providers to track an adult’s vaccination history upon the request of a patient. Immunizations are needed throughout adulthood but ensuring a fully immunized population can be challenging because of the state’s inability to track adult vaccinations. This is critically important in the event of an emergency, when an adult moves or simply needs access to their immunization record for higher education or travel.”

Also according to the issue brief, “SB 347 allows Texas health officials to share immunization information with other health authorities in the event of a declared disaster. Recent disasters requiring the mobilization of volunteer workers throughout Texas highlight the importance of a central registry of child and adult immunizations.”

Thanks to the Physicians of the Day

Thank you to the physicians who volunteered as Physicians of the Day this week: Doug Curran, M.D., of Athens; John Keller, M.D., of Fairfield; Larry Kravitz, M.D., of Austin; and Henry Boehm, M.D., of Brenham.

Don’t miss your chance to volunteer as a Physician of the Day during the 81st Texas Legislative Session. One day remains in March that needs to be filled: Tuesday, March 24. There are limited spots available in April and May.

As a Physician of the Day, you’ll care for lawmakers and the staff and anyone else on the Capitol grounds in the Capitol Health Services clinic, and you’ll have the honor of being announced in both the Senate and the House. TAFP has been providing this service in the Capitol for legislative sessions since 1971. For more information including an online calendar of available dates, and to sign up, click here.