REPORT OF BOARD OF COUNCILORS
BOC Report 5-A-07
Subject: Policy Review
Presented by: Ned Snyder, MD, Chair
Referred to: Reference Committee on Financial and Organizational Affairs
House of Delegates policies in the association's Policy Compendium are reviewed periodically for relevance and appropriateness. The following policies were reviewed and recommendations are offered for possible retention, amendment, or deletion.
85.009 Do Not Resuscitate Orders . The Texas Medical Association supports the right of terminally and chronically ill patients to utilize DNR orders in non-hospital settings (Medical Student Section, p 139, A-97).
105.014 Texas Medical Disclosure Panel . The Texas Medical Association supports the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel in its ongoing review and update of the list of procedures requiring disclosure (Medical Student Section, p 138, A-97).
Recommendation 1: Retain .
Medical Records Transfer Fees
Because of efforts made by the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Medical Board did modify its established fee regulation for copies of medical records. The permissible copy fee of $25 for the first 20 pages is unchanged. However, the permissible copy fee was increased in 2003 from $0.15 per page (after the first 20 pages) to $0.50 per page (after the first 20 pages).
230.004 Medical Records Transfer Fees . The Texas Medical Association will review historical information concerning physician fees charged for transfer of records and petition the Texas Medical Board to initiate rulemaking to establish a reasonable fee range (Substitute Res. 29Q, p 165, I-97).
Recommendation 2: Delete.
Physician Assisted Suicide
This policy recommends that TMA participate and support the Coalition for Quality of End-of- Life Care. This coalition no longer exists, therefore, the board amended the policy:
805.008 Physician Assisted Suicide. The Texas Medical Association supports AMA policy on physician-assisted suicide . and supports TMA participating as an active state medical association member in the Coalition for Quality End-of-Care. (Res. 29J, p 198, I-96).
95.014 Drug Screening of Physicians. The Texas Medical Association will continue to maintain implement a voicemail service at the state level for drug screening of physicians under contract with county medical society physician health and rehabilitation committees, district coordinators, and hospital-based peer assistance committees (Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation, p 87, A-96).
Recommendation 3: Approve as amended.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2007