Oct. 10, 2014
TMA Magazine Covers ACA Insurance Battles, Tobacco Report
Anniversary, In-House Company Doctors, and Sunset Review Shining on Health
Agencies
The
50th anniversary of a landmark report calling tobacco a killer although millions
have died since; court battles determining whether countless government-insured
patients will have to give back money they received to pay for it; a new kind
of company doctor; and legislative review of Texas’ health agencies highlight
this month’s Texas Medical
Association’s (TMA’s) Texas Medicine
magazine. Texas Medicine is the association’s
official publication. Here’s a summary of this month’s articles:
Tobacco Dangers — 50 Years of Progress Threatened
In the 50 years since the U.S. surgeon
general’s first report demonizing tobacco use as deadly, more than 20 million
people have died smoking-related deaths. (Ironically, many on the surgeon general’s
committee smoked, too.) “Enough is enough,” said Acting Surgeon General Boris
Lushniak, MD, at the White House in January. Texas’ health commissioner said more
Texans die annually from tobacco use than from alcohol, car accidents, fires,
AIDS, heroin, cocaine, and murder combined. Still, officials have a goal — for
the next generation to be smoke-free.
Big tobacco outspends the public health community’s messages
against its use. And electronic cigarette use (and advertising) is growing,
amid questions whether it will lead to a new generation of smokers. Following
newly adopted policy, TMA plans to urge the 2015 Texas Legislature to ban
selling e-cigarettes to minors.
Ruling Could Yield Chaos: D.C. Judges’
Decision Means Premium Hike for Texas
Conflicting court rulings
could determine whether many Texas patients can afford Affordable Care Act
(ACA) health insurance. A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled, essentially, that
any Texan who received ACA insurance subsidies (to help pay premiums if he or
she qualifies for help) might have to return them. However, a different U.S.
Court of Appeals ruled the current use of premium subsidies for those patients
is acceptable. The U.S. Supreme Court likely will decide. Potential losers
include patients, who might lose assistance to help them pay for their insurance,
and physicians, who cared for the patients but ultimately might get stuck with
unpaid medical bills for that care.
Will the Sun Rise? Health Agencies Undergo
Wholesale Review
Texas state agencies overseeing health care undergo legislative “sunset”
review in the upcoming session. What scrutiny do they face? What changes will
legislators require? While all state agencies are subject to review every 12
years, TMA physicians insist protecting Texans’ health be a top goal of any potential
agency changes.
The New Company Doctor: Worksite Primary
Care Gains Popularity
Imagine suddenly feeling ill at work but being able to
visit a physician on site. Employers are beginning to establish worksite
wellness clinics staffed by physicians under contract with doctor organizations,
in effort to trim health care costs and reduce employee absences. “Primary care
is a valuable thing. These companies realize the value,” said Travis Bias, DO,
who recently began caring for patients under this practice model. “It’s great
for patients and for the physician.” Patients there have easier access to his
care. And he also likes it because he can conduct regular patient screenings
and physicals, and teach patients about staying healthy.
“It's more
focused on education, which is the reason I went into family medicine in the
first place,” Dr. Bias said.
Please visit the TMA website to start reading these articles and
more.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 47,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Pam Udall phone: (512) 370-1382 cell: (512) 413-6807 Pam Udall
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Brent Annear phone: (512) 370-1381 cell: (512) 656-7320 Brent Annear
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