TMA EVPGram ● Feb. 1, 2010 ● vol 12, no.

FROM: Louis J. Goodman, PhD, CAE, Executive Vice President

Perry Rails Against Interference in Health Care Get Congressional Commitment to Fix SGR
Voter Registration Deadline is Today County Leaders Ponder Membership, Issues
Physicians Honor Dr. Fleming – Finally TEXPAC Launches New Web site

TEXMED.ORG GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PRACTICE MANAGEMENT LEGAL CONTACT US

Perry Rails Against Washington Interference in Health Care

Speaking to a packed house at TMA’s 2010 Winter Conference, Gov. Rick Perry denounced
congressional health system reform efforts. “Has there ever been a time in your 150-year history
that you all have faced a greater threat than you face today?” the governor said. “If they would
take the time to talk to Texas doctors about how to reform the system our country would be better
off. … I hope they will listen to the membership of the Texas Medical Association. You understand
what it’s like to have the life of a patient in your hands.” Watch a video of the governor’s speech.
In other highlights from the Winter Conference general session:
American Medical Association President Jim Rohack, MD, and National Medical Association
President Willarda Edwards, MD, engaged the audience in a lively discussion of health care
disparities. They presented strong evidence of how minorities in the U.S. receive poorer quality of
care regardless of whether they’re insured. Watch a video of their presentations.
Stanford University Professor Chip Health, PhD, coauthor of the about-to-be released book Switch,
offered some practical and humorous advice on how physicians can respond to – and direct –
change. If you want to know what it means for the Rider to trick the Elephant into following the
right Path, look for our upcoming announcement on how you can buy Switch at a discount and
receive continuing medical education credits for reading it.
Governor Perry invited all Texas physicians who are interested in volunteering to provide care to
Haiti’s earthquake victims to e-mail him at haiti@governor.state.tx.us.

Fleming Asks TMA Members to Get Congress to Commit to Fixing Medicare SGR

With just 29 (now 27) days remaining until a 21-percent cut in physicians’ Medicare payments
automatically kicks in, TMA President Bill Fleming, MD, on Saturday asked Texas physicians to get
on the phone today. “Please contact Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison and your U.S.
representative first thing Monday morning,” he said. “Ask each of them for a commitment, a solid
promise, to support a permanent fix to the SGR now – no ifs, ands, or buts.” Watch a short video
clip of Dr. Fleming’s request. The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula does not work because it
is not based on physicians’ cost of providing care to Medicare patients. TMA will accept nothing less
than a fair payment system. The U.S. Senate last week passed a resolution that would allow
Congress to freeze current payment rates for five years without raising taxes. Dr. Rohack called
that an $80 billion down payment toward a permanent SGR fix that will cost another $130 billion
now. He said AMA will not accept a freeze.
Today Is Deadline to Register to Vote in March 2 Primary Elections

Are you sure you’re registered to vote in next month’s party primaries? You can check your
registration status online. If your registration is not current or correct, complete, print, sign, and
mail a Voter Registration Application form to your county registrar at the address provided on the
form. The application must be postmarked by today to ensure your eligibility.

County Medical Society Leaders Ponder Membership and Key Issues

Thirty-two physician officers from 19 Texas county medical societies participated in a five-hour
sharing and training session at our annual County Medical Society Leadership Forum. Joined by
their own staff and TMA senior management, the physician leaders discussed such vexing
problems as how to bridge the generational divide with younger members who look to their
employers to provide services and opportunities that once were the exclusive purview of organized
medicine. They also discussed issues ranging from exclusive hospital contracts with physicians to
health insurance and liability reform.

TMA Members Give Dr. Fleming Long-Overdue Congratulations

Readers will remember that Dr. Fleming took the oath of office and delivered his installation
address long-distance from a Houston hospital bed last May. Because we didn’t have the chance to
congratulate him and wish him good luck then, TMA threw a special reception in his honor at
Winter Conference. “Despite that under-the weather start, Bill has done a remarkable job just
when Texas medicine needed a leader of his caliber,” said Immediate Past President Josie Williams,
MD. “Bill has kept a firm hand on the wheel through all of those storms, steering us carefully but
purposefully down a narrow, winding path laden with political landmines.”

Check Out the New WWW.TEXAC.ORG

TEXPAC has launched a totally redesigned Web site at www.texpac.org. Sign in using your TMA
Web site user name and password for loads of political insight. While you’re at it, please join
TEXPAC if you’re not a member, or increase your contribution level if you already belong.

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