Legislative Update: What s Ahead for TX Children and Pediatricians in the 85 th Session September 17, 2016 Seth Kaplan, MD Ryan Van Ramshorst, MD Co chairs, Executive Legislative Committee
Disclosures (I) Policies and standards of the Texas Medical Association, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, and the American Medical Association require that speakers and planners for continuing medical education activities disclose any relevant financial relationships they may have with any entity producing, marketing, re selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients whose products, devices or services may be discussed in the content of the CME activity. The planners and speakers have no relevant relationships to disclose.
Disclosures (II) Ryan D. Van Ramshorst, MD does not intend to discuss an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device in his presentation. Seth Kaplan, MD does not intend to discuss an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device in his presentation.
Agenda State government refresher Case example of advocacy in the 84 th Session and additional advocacy successes Looking towards the 85 th Session TPS advocacy priority issue areas How to stay involved 5 th Annual Medical Student, Resident and Fellow Advocacy Day
Texas State Senate Who Represents Us (and Our Patients) 31 Senatorial seats 20 Republicans and 11 Democrats 2 (possibly 3) practicing physicians Campbell, Schwertner & Buckingham Lt. Governor Sen. Dan Patrick One of the most conservative Texas State Senates ever 2/3 vote 3/5 vote Pertinent committees: Health & Human Services Higher Education Finance
Who Represents Us (and Our Patients) Texas House of Representatives 150 House seats Currently, 95 Republicans and 55 Democrats 3 practicing physicians (1 more incoming) Zerwas, Sheffield, Bonnen & Oliverson 3 registered nurses Speaker of the House Rep. Joe Straus Two strands of Republicans More traditional business centric conservatives, and Far right conservatives Pertinent committees: Appropriations Public Health Human Services
Case: You are seeing a 14 y/o teenage boy for his annual check up When performing your HEADDSS assessment, he discloses that he uses a vapor pen but would never smoke cigarettes Upon further questioning, he tells you that his father is using a similar pen You find published data from the CDC that reports current e cig usage among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 14 w/no decline in overall tobacco use in the same age categories. FDA rules and regulations on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems are not finalized and effective until August 2016. Advocacy Case Example
Advocacy Case Example TPS Policy Priority: Support regulation of e cigarettes including youth access and marketing to youth. Action steps: Worked before session to ensure TX Public Health Coalition and various partners were supportive Testified in both House and Senate on bills related to this topic. Negotiated with Senate and House champions to craft omnibus bill on e cigarettes Dropped one pagers and met with legislative offices to ensure vote for bill on House/Senate floor VICTORY!!! SB 97 (Hinojosa): Includes e cigarettes in statute relating to regulating the sale and distribution of cigarettes and tobacco products which includes prohibition of sale and marketing to minors and requires child packaging on products containing nicotine.
Additional 84 th Session Victories SB 760 Improves network adequacy standards within Medicaid managed care HB 839 Changes TX Medicaid policy to suspend, instead of terminate, benefits when a child enters a JJ facility SB 18 Invests in first year residency slots and creates a permanent fund to support future GME investment HB 2171 Extends the timeframe in which a young adult can opt in to keep records in ImmTrac $3M appropriation to reinstate Primary Care Preceptorship program Stopped bills related to eliminating Fitnessgram in schools, direct access to physical therapists, mandated ECG screening for school sports, expansion of raw milk access and prohibiting physician to counsel patients about gun safety.
How do you find more information about last session?
Looking towards the 85 th ; uncertainty on the horizon 1115 Waiver Renewal? Multiple lawsuits ongoing against the state that may require significant resources Therapy rates CPS system Oil/gas downturn makes for less revenue to appropriate Outcomes of HHS Transformation Sunset of Texas Medical Board New elected officials to educate Presidential Election
Despite uncertainty, TPS remains vigilant in advocacy for children Improving the foster care healthcare system Immunizations & infectious disease emergencies Physical activity and nutrition in school and early childhood environments Ensuring access to Early Childhood Intervention program Mental health services for children Childhood injury prevention Continue to play defense in many areas
Stay informed at txpeds.org/advocacy
How to get involved Analyze legislative successes and problems left unresolved from previous session TPS staff research policy ideas raised by practicing physicians and in coordination with coalition partners Compile policy ideas via Annual Leadership Planning Summit and Annual Advocacy Training Day Call for policy proposals from TPS Committee Chairs leading up to session TPS Executive Legislative Committee prioritizes policy ideas for coming legislative session
There are ways to engage for any level of availability Be available for testimony and office visits Contact your legislators on TPS priority advocacy initiatives Work with TPS staff to craft policy solutions Join and/or chair relevant TPS committees Identify policy problems
5 th Annual TPS Medical Student, Resident and Fellow Advocacy Day Save the date: March 1, 2016 Keynote speaker from a lawmaker Presentations on policy issues and how to advocate on behalf of kids See TPS members testify in Committee hearings and put in cards of support for TPS bills Pediatrician legislative office visits
Thank you from your advocacy team! Ryan Van Ramshorst, MD ELC Co chair Seth Kaplan, MD ELC Co chair Kaitlyn Clifton MH Policy Fellow Clayton Travis Advocacy and Health Policy Coordinator Eric Woomer Political Consultant