dents in grades 6 through 8 from four to all six semesters. SB 186 would have restored a half-credit of PE and a half- credit of health education to graduation requirements. In 2009, House Bill 3 re- duced required PE credits to one. Senator Nelson encourages physi-
cians to remain vocal at the capitol in support of legislation that will improve Texas’ health care landscape. “In formulating health policy, it is es- sential to hear the real-life perspectives of physicians and to hear how these pol- icy changes are going to affect them and their patients,” Senator Nelson said. House Bill 574 by Donna Howard (D-
Austin), regarding the consent process for ImmTrac, the state’s immunization registry, didn’t make it past the House Committee on Public Health. Passage of the bill would have changed the consent process for ImmTrac to opt out rather than opt in.
A lean DSHS budget DSHS Commissioner David Lakey, MD, says the department is evaluating the impact of the reductions in tobacco pre- vention and chronic disease funding on its services and public health efforts. “With fewer dollars for services, it stands to reason that fewer people will be served. Significant economic and hu- man costs are associated with tobacco use and obesity. Chronic diseases, most of which are directly attributable to to- bacco and obesity, are now the top driv- ers of medical costs in Texas. Prevention is the best way to avoid these costs,” he said.
The department is exploring how to manage the resources it receives to en- sure effective use of funds, he says. Chronic disease prevention funding
was cut from $29.2 million for the 2010– 11 budget to $15.5 million for 2012–13. Chronic disease money covers many of the department’s obesity prevention ef- forts. DSHS requested $36.4 million for 2012–13. Funding for chronic disease preven- tion covers grants to Texas communities for physical fitness initiatives, efforts of the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, and other activities related to reducing obesity.
46 TEXAS MEDICINE August 2011
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