•   WHAT: 2012 Texas Medical Association (TMA) Fall Conference in Austin, featuring presentations on the impact of the Supreme Court’s federal health law ruling, TMA’s Physicians Medicaid Congress, and a forecast of the upcoming Texas legislative session’s effect on patients and physicians. 

 Highlights:  

- Keynote speaker Thomas Miller, JD, of the American Enterprise Institute will discuss what’s next for the patient-physician relationship and the health care marketplace in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

- Darren Whitehurst, TMA vice president, Advocacy, will introduce TMA’s Physicians Medicaid Congress, where physicians will craft solutions to attract more doctors to participate in Medicaid — and keep the program viable in the 21st century.

- Texas legislators and candidates from the family of medicine will discuss the top health care issues in the coming sessions of the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress. 

•  WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, 8:45-11:45 am (details below)  

           8:45 am          Opening Remarks
                                    Michael E. Speer, MD, President, TMA

            9 am                Aftermath of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act  
                                    Thomas Miller, JD, American Enterprise Institute                

            10:25 am         TMA Medicaid Initiative  
                                    Darren Whitehurst, Vice President, Advocacy, TMA

            10:35 am         Candidates With a Cure 
                                    Moderator: Ross Ramsey, Executive Editor, The Texas Tribune 
         Invited Panel: 
            Greg Bonnen, MD                              Republican nominee, Texas House District 24
            Rep. Michael Burgess, MD                 U.S. House District 26
            Sen. Bob Deuell, MD                         Texas Senate District 2
            Rep. Susan King                                 Texas House District 71
            Rep. Charles Schwertner, MD            Republican nominee, Texas Senate District 5
            J.D. Sheffield, DO                              Republican nominee, Texas House District 59
            Rep. John Zerwas, MD                       Representative, Texas House District 28  

• WHERE: AT&T Conference Center, Level 3, Grand Ballroom, 1900 University Ave., Austin 
• WHY:  The Supreme Court ruling on the PPACA has wrought significant controversy in the national and local health care community. TMA Fall Conference is designed to help physicians prepare for this changing health care landscape.  

 TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 46,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies 6around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

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