Archives
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President's Letter
A busy start to a busy year
By Tricia Elliott, MD
Greetings colleagues. Regardless of what you think about the first several weeks of 2017, you certainly can’t say they’ve been boring. With the inauguration of a new president and the installation of his administration, the uncertain future for the Affordable Care Act, and the start of the 85th Texas Legislature, we have a lot of big issues to keep up with.
As it turns out, “repealing and replacing Obamacare” is much easier said than done and anyone who professes to know how the president and Congress will proceed most likely doesn’t. AAFP continues to be an influential resource to policy makers in Washington D.C. In letters to President Trump and to the leadership of the House and the Senate, AAFP has defined its priorities: health care for all, delivery system and payment reform, health care affordability, a national health care workforce strategy that promotes the value of primary care, and the promotion of prevention and wellness.
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Senate Finance Committee Workgroup on Healthcare Cost hears testimony from state agencies
By Jean Klewitz
Health care costs are back on the docket as lawmakers finish the third full week of the 85th Texas Legislature. Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, has convened a workgroup to come up with ways to control rising health care costs for state programs and that group met for the first time on Friday, Feb. 3, hearing testimony from state agencies and a variety of stakeholders for more than six hours.
Orthopedic surgeon and chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD, R-Georgetown, presided over the seven-member panel. “Health care costs in all these programs and across all our state agencies continue to skyrocket and crowd out other priorities like education, transportation, and public safety,” he said as he opened the hearing.
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Host a Shot Clinic with Help from TMA's Be Wise — Immunize
By Tammy Wishard
TMA has a way to help you boost local vaccination rates: Be Wise — Immunize Local Impact Grant. TMA is accepting applications until March 1 for grants of up to $2,500 to support local vaccination events. TMA member-physician practices/clinics, county medical societies, TMA Alliance chapters, and medical student chapters can apply.
The funds can be used for shot clinics to vaccinate children, adolescents, and/or adults. Applicants should apply for a grant at least four months before their event, and grantees have up to 12 months to use the funds. TMA will accept applications again on July 1 and Nov. 1 for shot clinics in late 2017 and early 2018.
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Attend AAFP Leadership Conference with a scholarship!
By Perdita Henry
Have you worked alongside someone who blew you away with their leadership skills? Are you a special constituency member who wants to make sure minorities, women, new physicians, LGBT+, and IMG physicians have a seat at the table? You’re in luck. Many of the inspirational and dedicated members of TAFP have made AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders and Annual Chapter Leader Forum a part of their journey to build the careers they always wanted.
Taking place April 27-29, in Kansas City, Missouri, AAFP members from across the nation will gather to discuss various issues, suggest policies and programs to AAFP, and receive leadership training.
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