Shoring up access to maternal care and analyzing safety around THC emerged as top public health priorities for the Texas Medical Association’s House of Delegates at TexMed May 10 in San Antonio.
Oversight and transparency mandates for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) came to the fore, with Emily Adhikari, MD, a Dallas obstetrician-gynecologist and maternal and fetal medicine specialist, warning of the “pseudo safety net” that some CPCs may represent due to a confluence of factors: their current lack of accountability and a dearth of data amid a backdrop of decade-long high rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Texas, which the centers are not required to test for.
Delegates adopted policy directing TMA to urge “the development of effective oversight for entities offering pregnancy-related health services and counseling” and advocate for transparency requirements regarding:
- Description of services such entities do or do not offer or refer for, including prenatal care, family planning, medical emergency termination, or adoption services;
- Communications on site and in their advertising, and before any services are provided to an individual patient; and
- Funding and sponsorship relationships.
That TMA policy also importantly advocates that any entity licensed to provide medical or health services to pregnant individuals ensures that care is provided by appropriately qualified, licensed personnel and abides by federal and state health information privacy laws.
And facing the state’s perinatal care deserts, the house adopted policy submitted by TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health calling for the association to facilitate “continuing medical education for physicians on providing patient-centered maternal care with an emphasis on cultural humility and health equity principles.”
Among other policies related to women’s health, delegates directed TMA to:
- Promote mobile mammography units in medically underserved areas, and encourage appropriate follow-up and referrals in alignment with standards of care;
- Support legislation for reproductive health insurance coverage for fertility treatments and encourage payers to cover physician-ordered, evidence-based fertility treatments;
- Encourage increased resources, assistance, and advocacy for working physician parents.
The Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health “believes it is important for all working physician parents to receive support and assistance to prevent maternal and gender discrimination and unequal opportunity in the workforce,” Carey Eppes, MD, said in online testimony.
Studying THC
Meanwhile, as the state considers regulation of THC, the House of Delegates voted to study the need for heightened safety around such products, such as:
- Advertising restrictions, particularly to youth, and
- State oversight and public education
The house also agreed to study the topic of limiting access to smartphones in schools, another issue the state is debating.
Keep track of TMA policy adopted at TexMed 2025 among other activities on the association’s House of Delegates webpage.
Jessica Ridge
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1395