Medicaid reform

The Texas Medicaid system has long been characterized as arduous for both patients and health care providers, but after the settlement of the 14-year-old Frew v. Hawkins lawsuit and a healthy allocation of state and federal funds, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has $1.8 billion to make changes to the system and increase access to care for Texas’ most needy children.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 58 no. 4

Cutting the safety net

When TAFP Past President and AAFP Board member Roland Goertz, M.D., tried to find a family doctor for his 89-year-old mother-in-law, he got a glimpse of what the near future could be like for senior citizens seeking care.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 58 no. 3

Family Medicine Under the Dome

Every legislative session has a character of its own, a personality of sorts. As the opening of the 80th Legislature approached, the fact that this would be a particularly strange session became ever more apparent.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 58 no. 2

Honey, I shrunk the budget surplus

Shortly before the 80th Texas Legislature convened in January, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced that legislators would face the largest budget surplus in Texas history—$14.3 billion in new revenue and $82.5 billion in overall available general revenue—to spend over the next two years.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 58 no. 1

Taxes, budget cuts and Texas' biennial mud-
slinging contest

After five special sessions in two years, the Texas Legislature finally approved Gov. Rick Perry’s plan to revamp Texas’ antiquated school finance system by reducing local school property taxes and replacing them with a new business tax and a $1 increase in the cigarette tax.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 57 no. 3

The Taxman Cometh

Not only is April the month when federal income taxes come due, but April 17 marked the date the Legislature re-convened for yet another special session on public school finance.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online vol. 57 no. 2

It's Back to School for the Lege

Now that the Texas Supreme Court set a deadline for the creation of a new funding scheme for the state’s public schools, it’s just a matter of time before the Texas Legislature will be back in Special Session and physicians will find themselves arguing against a slew of tax proposals.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 57 No. 1

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

This time around, legislators chose to first, do no harm — or much of anything else for that matter.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 56 No. 3

Race to the Finish

Most seasoned political observers describe Texas’ 140-day biennial legislative session as a marathon — starting with a slow, steady, measured pace and building to a frantic sprint in May as lawmakers try to push their legislation across the finish line to become law. This, however, is not a typical legislative session.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 56 No. 2

A Taxing Problem

It’s back to school for the Texas Legislature. Lawmakers have until October to come up with a new method for financing elementary and secondary education, and proposals for new taxes on business are being collected at the front of the classroom. And that’s just one challenge in store for family medicine this session.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 56 No. 1

Looking Ahead

Academy sets priorities for next Texas Legislature

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 55 No. 4

If at First you Don't Suceed, Try, Try Again

On April 20, Gov. Rick Perry summoned the Texas Legislature to Austin to try and fix the state’s troubled school funding system, but despite their best efforts, the legislators were unable to come up with a
viable plan.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 55 No. 3

March Madness in Austin

So what does college basketball have to do with Texas politics?

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 55 No. 2

In the Interim...

So that’s what they do when they’re not in session

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 55 No. 1

The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of Knowing
What's Left to Do

Heavily outspent by the trial lawyers, Prop 12 was pounded on the airwaves across Texas with an aggressive misinformation campaign designed to confuse voters on the amendment’s purpose.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 54 No. 4

The Budget Blues

Clear skies over Austin? For health care issues at the Capitol, the forecast is stormy.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 54 No. 2

Gearing up for number 78

Tort reform is top concern as TAFP prepares for legislative session

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 53 No. 4

Stormy Weather

Medicine could be in for a rough ride when the Texas Legislature reconvenes in January

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 53 No. 3

Prescription for Change

New prescribing rules, liability insurance plus other interim issues

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 53 No. 2

The Year that was and the Year to Come

The passing of the holidays always gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past year and focus on the challenges facing us in the next.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 53 No. 1

The Making of a Perfect Storm

Legislative turnover and a host of interim studies means trouble could be brewing at the Capitol

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 52 No. 4

77th Texas Legislature Comes to a Close

Several TAFP-backed health initiatives pass with bipartisan support

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 52 No. 3

Anatomy of a Train Wreck

Musical Chairs, Medicaid Mishaps, Redistricting Keep Legislature Busy

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 52 No. 2

Session Begins

With redistricting on the agenda and razor-thin margins in both the House and the Senate, this session promises to be one of the most partisan in recent memory.

posted in Texas Family Physician Online Vol. 52 No. 1