87th Texas Legislature Letters and Testimonies

2021 Texas Legislature Letters and Testimonies

TMA physician and medical student advocacy leaders braved the pandemic and the nuances of Zoom technology to secure important wins for Texas patients and the practice of medicine.

Below are testimonies, letters, and comments delivered to lawmakers and state agencies.

Here's a look back at testimony from the 2019 legislative session.

Aging/End of Life Care

Patient Wishes Are Paramount
(House Public Health Committee, Testimony on HB 2943 by Mark Casanova, MD, April 14, 2021)

Border Health

Budget

Texas Must Boost Investments That Will Improve the Health of All Texans
(Written Testimony on SB 1 by Texas Medical Association, May 1, 2021)

Texas Must Fund DSHS' Initiatives
(Testimony by Jason V. Terk, MD, House Appropriations Committee, Article II, March 3, 2021)

Ensure HHSC Can Provide Access to Critical Services
(Testimony by Emily Briggs, MD, House Appropriations Committee, Article II, March 1, 2021)

Invest Now in Dept. of State Health Services
(Written Testimony by TMA and and Texas Public Health Coalition, Feb. 26, 2021)

Corporate Practice of Medicine

Graduate Medical Education/Workforce

Continue Building Texas Physician_Workforce
(Written Testimony by TMA, Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 23, 2021)

Support the Physician Workforce Pipeline
(Written Testimony by TMA, House Appropriations Committee, Article III, March 3, 2021)

Texas Must Continue to Invest in GME
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1, Article III, Sept. 30, 2020)

Health Information Technology

Reporting Breaches Impacting HIPAA-Covered Entities
(Written Testimony on HB 3746 by Texas Medical Association, Senate Business and Commerce Committee, May 18, 2021)

HIPAA and Breach of Security Notifications
(House Business & Industry Committee, Written Testimony on HB 3746 by TMA, April 13, 2021)

Health Insurance

Prior Authorization Costs Patients Time and Money
(Testimony on HB 3459 by Lisa Ehrlich, MD, Debra Patt, MD, and Zeke Silva, MD; Senate Finance Committee, May 18, 2021)

Telemedicine: Safe, Convenient, Accessible Health Care
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 980 by Thomas Kim, MD, April 13, 2021)

Don't Injure Auto Accident Patients Twice
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 621 by John Flores, MD, April 13, 2021)

Protecting the Prudent Layperson Standard
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 2035 by Diana Fite, MD, April 13, 2021)

Require Explanation of Benefits When Prior Auth Approved
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 4012 by Zeke Silva, MD, April 13, 2021)

Copay Accumulators Cost Patients
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 2668 by John Flores, MD, April 13, 2021)

Eliminating Physician Practice Waste: Gold Carding and Peer-to-Peer Reviews
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 3459 by Zeke Silva, MD, April 13, 2021)

Improving Timeliness of Patient Care: Gold Carding and Peer-to-Peer Reviews
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 3459 by Lisa Ehrlich, MD, April 13, 2021)

Streamlining Prior Auth: Gold Carding and Peer-to-Peer Reviews
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 3459 by John Flores, MD, April 13, 2021)

Cover Diagnostic Mammograms
(Senate Business & Commerce Committee, Testimony by Sarah Avery, MD, April 13, 2021)

Health Plans Must Cover Patients in Emergencies
(Testimony on HB 2241 by Diana Fite, MD, House Insurance Committee, April 6, 2021)

Prohibit Health Plan Retaliation Against Physicians
(Testimony on HB 2929 by Zeke Silva, MD, House Insurance Committee, April 6, 2021)

Improve Health Care Cost Transparency With Data
(Written Testimony on HB 1907 by TMA, House Insurance Committee, April 6, 2021)

Prohibit Prior Authorization of State-Mandated Benefits
(Testimony on HB 410 by Debra Patt, MD, House Insurance Committee, March 9, 2021)

Waive Budget Neutrality Requirements for a Year
(Interim Written Comments on HR 8505, Oct. 26, 2020)

Driving Down the Cost of Health Care in Texas
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1, Select Committee on Statewide Health Care Costs, Oct. 1, 2020)

Drug Price Transparency, Balance Billing, and Coverage
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1 House Committee on Insurance, Sept. 8, 2020)

Liability

Important Liability Protections for Physicians
(Written Comments on SB 6 by TMA, April 8, 2021)

Limiting Discovery Allows Physicians to Focus on Care
(Written Testimony on HB 1617 by TMA, House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, April 6, 2021)

Protecting Physicians from Litigant Crossfire
(Written Testimony on SB 207 by TMA, Senate Committee on State Affairs, March 29, 2021)

Protecting Professionals Acting in Good Faith
(Testimony on HB 3 by Debra Patt, MD ,House State Affairs Committee, March 11, 2021)

Medicaid and CHIP

 Strengthen Entire Health Care Safety Net With an Updated 1115 Waiver
(Coalition letter to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, June 28, 2021)

Cover Children All Year
(Testimony on HB 290 by Lindy McGee, MD, House Human Services Committee, March 30, 2021)

Postpartum Care is Critical for New Moms
(Testimony on HB 133 by Lisa Hollier, MD, House Human Services Committee, March 23, 2021)

Improving MCO Transparency, Accountability, and Effectiveness
(Written Testimony by TMA, House Appropriations Committee, Article II, March 4, 2021)

Improve Access to Care by Improving Medicaid Rates
(Written Testimony by TMA, Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 26, 2021)

Texas Must Provide Meaningful Coverage to All Texans
(Written Testimony by TMA, Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 26, 2021)

Moms and Babies Need Comprehensive Health Care Coverage 
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1, House Public Health Committee, Oct. 16, 2020)

 Let's Work Together to Strengthen Rural Health
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1, House Committee on Public Health, Oct. 16, 2020)

Renew and Strengthen Texas' Medicaid 1115 Waivers  
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 2, Article II: Review how Texas is preparing for state and federal budgetary changes that impact the state's health programs, including: the Family First Prevention Services Act; the next phase of the 1115 Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program Waiver; Texas’ Targeted Opioid Response Grant; the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability rule, and the Healthy Texas Women Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver. Interim - Sept. 30, 2020)

Support Early Childhood Brain Development with an Enhanced ECI Program
(Written comments on the Charge No. 5 request for information: Examine state investments in the health and brain development of babies and toddlers, including Early Childhood Intervention and other early childhood programs for children in the first three years. Evaluate opportunities to boost child outcomes and achieve longer-term savings today on the vital importance of the ECI program for some of Texas’ most at-risk and vulnerable infants and toddlers. A Child’s. Interim - Sept. 30, 2020)

Public Health

Time Is Of the Essence in a Public Health Disaster
(Testimony on SB 966 by John Carlo, MD, House State Affairs Committee, May 10, 2021)

A Strong Response to Outbreaks
(Testimony on SB 968 by John Carlo, MD, House State Affairs Committee, May 10, 2021)

Well-Informed Volunteers are Vital for SHACs
(Written Testimony on SB 347 by Texas Medical Association, House Public Education Committee, May 4, 2021)

Local Elected Officials Must Have Authority to Extend Public Health Orders
(Written Testimony on SB 967 by Texas Medical Association, House Public Health Committee, April 28, 2021)

Protect Community Volunteers While Improving Transparency
(Testimony on HB 3872 by Debra Patt, MD, House Committee on Public Health, April 28, 2021)

Local Health Authorities Must Be Able to Act in a Crisis
(Written Testimony on SB 1616 by Texas Medical Association, Senate Finance Committee, April 26, 2021)

Physicians Follow the Science
(Testimony on SB 1489 by Donald Murphey, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, April 21, 2021)

Update Texas' Public Health Reporting Systems
(Written testimony on HB 3366 by Texas Medical Association, House Public Health Committee, April 14, 2021)

Ensure SHACs Represent the Entire Community
(House Public Education Committee, Written Testimony on HB 3089, April 14, 2021)

Syringe Service Programs Save Lives
(House County Affairs Committee, Written Testimony on HB 3233 by TMA, April 13, 2021)

Preventing the Spread of Communicable Disease
(House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, Written Testimony on HB 369 by TMA, April 12, 2021)

Stopping the Spread of Infectious Disease
(Testimony on SB 1313 by John Carlo, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 31, 2021)

Visiting Patients During a Public Health Emergency
(Testimony on SB 1195 by Debra Patt, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 31, 2021)

Improving Texas' Public Health Response
(Testimony on SB 968 by John Carlo, MD,Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 31, 2021)

Data and Reporting are Critical in a Pandemic
(Testimony on SB 969 by John Carlo, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 31, 2021)

Ensuring the Heart Health and Safety of Student Athletes
(Written Testimony on HB 2605 by TMA, House Committee on Education, March 30, 2021)

Protect Students From Hazing
(Written Testimony on SB 36 by TMA, Senate Criminal Justice Committee, March 30, 2021)

Patients Need Safe Caregiver Visits
(Testimony on HB 2211 by Debra Patt, MD, House Public Health Committee, March 24, 2021)

Improving Transparency of School Health Advisory Councils
(Testimony on SB 347 by Debra Patt, MD, Senate Business and Commerce Committee, March 23, 2021)

Public Health Departments Need Flexibility and Authority in a Disaster
(Written Testimony on SB 967 by TPHC, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 23, 2021)

Protecting the Public Health in a Disaster
(Written Testimony on SB 966 by TPHC, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 23, 2021)

Participating in School Health Advisory Councils
(Testimony on SB 442 by Debra Patt, MD, Senate Education Committee, March 18, 2021)

Alerting Next of Kin When Death Certificates are Amended
(Written Testimony on HB 723 by Debra Patt, MD, House Public Health Committee, March 17, 2021)

Help Keep Long Term Care Residents Healthy and Safe
(Testimony by Hattie Henderson, MD, House Human Services Committee, March 9, 2021)

Allowing Safe Visits to Long Term Care Residents
(Testimony by Debra Patt, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 10, 2021)

Safeguarding Long-Term Care Facility Residents 
(Written Interim Comments on COVID-19 in LTCFs, Sept. 25, 2020)

Strengthen Texas' Public Health Capabilities 
(Interim Charge I, implementation of new funding and full-time equivalent positions for the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital 2 Statistics Unit; and implementation of DSHS Rider 29; evaluate the capacity of immunization programs to prevent, reduce, and eliminate vaccine preventable diseases in adults and children. Interim Written comments,Sept. 30, 2020)

 Child Abuse and Neglect 

Allowing Kids to Explore is Not Abuse
(Senate State Affairs Committee, Testimony on SB 1311 by Marjan Linnell, MD, April 12, 2021)

Protecting Whole-Child Health
(Senate State Affairs Committee, Testimony on SB 1646 by Marjan Linnell, MD, April 12, 2021)

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
(Written Testimony on HB 3379 by TMA, House Human Services Committee, March 30, 2021)

Keeping Children Safe Through MedCARES
(Testimony by Kimberly Avila Edwards, MD, House Appropriations Committee, Article II, March 3, 2021)

Fund Important Child Abuse Protections
(Testimony by James Lukefahr, MD, Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 26, 2021)

 COVID-19 

Physicians Detail Challenges Presented by COVID-19
(Testimony by Debra Patt, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 10, 2021)

 Gun Control 

Designate June as Gun Violence Awareness Month
(Testimony on HB 909 by Thomas Kim, MD House Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee, March 15, 2021)

Prevent Firearm Accidents and Suicide With Safe Storage
(Written Testimony by TMA, House Appropriations Committee, Article V, March 4, 2021

Improve Public Awareness of Firearm Safety
(Written Testimony by TMA, Senate Finance Committee, Article V, March 3, 2021)

 Immunization

Texas Must Improve ImmTrac2 Functionality
(Testimony on HB 4272 by Joseph Schneider, MD, House Public Health Committee, April 21, 2021)

Physicians Must Protect All Their Patients, Especially Fragile Ones
(Testimony on HB 2856 by Mai Duong, MD, House Public Health Committee, April 21, 2021)

Childhood Immunizations Should Be Administered in the Medical Home
(Testimony on HB 678 by Seth Kaplan, MD, House Public Health Committee, April 14, 2021)

Vaccines Are Safe for Patients
(Testimony on SB 1310 by Marjan Linnell, MD, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 31, 2021)

 Maternal Health 

Improve Maternal Health and Reduce Health Disparities
(Written Testimony on S. 411 by Texas Medical Association, May 18, 2021)

Team-Based Care is Most Optimal for Patients
(Written Testimony on SB 735 by Texas Medical Association, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, May 3, 2021)

Only Physicians Should Prescribe Medications
(Testimony on SB 735 by ACOG District XI, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, April 21, 2021)

Postpartum Care is Critical for New Moms
(Testimony on HB 133 by Lisa Hollier, MD, House Human Services Committee, March 23, 2021)

Don't Intrude on the Patient-Physician Relationship
(Written Testimony on SB 1647 by TMA, March 15, 2021)

Moms and Babies Need Comprehensive Health Care Coverage 
(Written Comments on Interim Charge 1, House Public Health Committee, Oct. 16, 2020)

 Mental Health

Coverage Parity For All Medical Conditions
(Comment Letter to Texas Department of Insurance from Texas Medical Association, April 2, 2021)

 Tobacco and Vaping 

Protect Teens From the Dangers of Vaping
(Testimony on SB 248 by Maria Monge, MD, House Ways and Means Committee, May 3, 2021

Stopping Youth From Starting Vaping
(House Ways and Means Committee, Written Testimony on HB 211 by TMA, April 12, 2021)

Regulate Vaping to Protect Children from Nicotine
(Testimony on SB 248 by Lindy McGee, MD, Senate Finance Committee, March 30, 2021)

Fund State Smoking Cessation Efforts
(Written Testimony by TMA, Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 23, 2021)

Scope of Practice

Team-Based Care is Most Optimal for Patients
(Written Testimony on SB 735 by Texas Medical Association, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, May 3, 2021)

A Collaborative Care Model is Best for Patients
(Testimony on HB 2049 by Seth Kaplan, MD, House Public Health Committee, April 14, 2021)

Only Physicians Can Prescribe Medications
(Comment Letter to Texas Optometry Board from Texas Medical Association, April 4, 2021)

There Is No Shortcut to Becoming a Surgeon
(Testimony on HB 2340 by Diana Fite, MD, House Public Health Committee, March 31, 2021)

Taxes

Don't Tax Medical Billing Services
(Testimony on HB 1445 by Yassir Zeid, MD, House Ways and Means Committee, March 15, 2021)

Telemedicine

Expand Telemedicine to Enhance Health Care
(Testimony on S. 368 by Diana Fite, MD, April 29, 2021)

Serving the Nation With Telemedicine
(Testimony by Thomas Kim, MD, House Ways and Means Committee, Health Subcommittee, April 28, 2021)

Telemedicine: Safe, Convenient, Accessible Health Care
(House Insurance Committee, Testimony on HB 980 by Thomas Kim, MD, April 13, 2021)

TMB

Streamlining CME in Texas
(House Public Health Committee, Written Testimony on HB 2758 by TMA, April 14, 2021)