REPORT OF COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS
CSA Report 1-A-06
Subject: Council Activities
Presented by: Leonides Cigarroa Jr., MD, Chair
Newborn Genetic Screening
HB 790, co-authored by Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton), passed during the 79th Legislative Session, mandated expansion of newborn genetic screening in the state by November 2006. Toward that end, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has implemented several stakeholders' activities in which TMA and the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS) have partnered in our participation. A Web-based survey of physicians and other providers was performed, a series of three stakeholders' meetings were held in Austin to provide the opportunity to discuss the state needs to accomplish a successful expansion, and a request-for-proposal (RFP) developed and distributed for commercial laboratory services vendors who are interested in servicing that aspect of the Texas Newborn Screening Program. CSA and TPS met in late January with the Health Commissioner to discuss funding options for the program, especially to assist with enhancement of the case management aspect of the program. DSHS withdrew the initial RFP and was to have a revised RFP ready by early March. CSA and TPS are continuing to assist DSHS with establishing an organized and effective referral system for infants going through the screening program who should be referred to pediatric metabolic specialists. TMA and TPS are to be included in the stakeholders' group to have opportunity to comment on proposed rules changes for the program. TMA and TPS also are involved in helping define the patient/family/hospital/physician/other provider educational needs regarding expanded screening.
Healthy Vision 2010
The council provided input to the Treatment section of the TMA Healthy Vision 2010 campaign. Several members also participated at Summit 2005 in a focus group regarding the Trusted Leader component of the campaign.
Select Committee on Patient Safety
Two physicians from the council are participating in the TMA President's Select Committee on Patient Safety and the Select Committee's Clinical Intervention Subcommittee to provide clinical expertise and a scientific evidence base to the three clinical components of the campaign.
Asthma Coalition of Texas
The council obtained approval from the Board of Trustees for TMA's affiliation with the Asthma Coalition of Texas (ACT). A member of the council serves as the TMA representative to the organization and is a major communication link between the two entities. Information about ACT is available on the Web: www.texasasthma.org .
XLHealth Disease Management Demonstration Project
After a successful physician and patient enrollment effort, XLHealth was notified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the fall of 2005 that the disease management demonstration project was being halted early (Dec. 31, 2005) and the CMS focus moved to implementation of Medicare Part D. XLHealth and TMA collaborated on notifying physicians of the change. XLHealth obtained approval from CMS to continue, at XLHealth's expense, some of the services to enrolled patients through 2006 to help patients with a smoother transition of their care.
Science Teaching Awards Program
A year's moratorium on the TMA Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching Program was implemented to consider changes to how outstanding science teachers will be recognized. The revised program will be operational in time to recognize winners in 2007. Winners will continue to receive their awards at the TMA Annual Session.
National Study of Physician Organizations and Management of Chronic Disease II (NSPO II)
The Board of Trustees' approved TMA's affiliation with this national study which is under the direction of researchers from the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health. TMA will receive a copy of the aggregate results, including a comparison of Texas medical groups and IPAs with those in the rest of the country.
Committee on Cardiovascular Diseases
A separate handbook report at TexMed 2006 recommends discharge of this committee. Representatives from DSHS, Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, and Texas Chapter of the American Heart Association have been asked to attend meetings to provide updates of their activities.
Directors Desk Communication Tool
The council participated in the TMA pilot of Directors Desk, a Web-based secure messaging/discussion product. The council is supportive of the capability Directors Desk allows for council discussion, especially between formal meetings. The Web-based program permits forwarding lengthy messages and attachments without maximizing the storage capacity of regular e-mail. It also allows all communications on a subject to be in one central place and for council members to see comments as the discussion continues.
End-of-Life Issues
The council has communicated its interest to the Council on Health Services Organizations regarding implementation of the Oregon POLST ("Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment") or similar form in Texas. The council also is developing a paper on persistent vegetative state (PVS) which will be available soon.
TMa House of Delegates: TexMed 2006