“The input of these medical professionals helped crystallize language in our bill that I believe can serve as a model for other states in the future.”
concussions and make the judgment when an athlete can safely return to play.”
The TMA ad hoc committee helped highlight the potentially long-lasting ef- fects of concussions, especially multiple untreated concussions, Representative Price says.
Committee member Theodore Spinks, MD, an Austin pediatric neurosurgeon, says one of its goals was to prevent law- makers from legislating health care. “It’s not the legislature’s place to tell physicians how to treat a disease, con- dition, or injury. Recommendations on concussion management will change over time, so we wanted the bill to carry weight but not dictate how physicians manage each athlete’s individual concus- sion,” he said.
HB 2038 author Rep. Walter “Four”
Price (R-Amarillo), says he and Sen. Bob Deuell, MD (R-Greenville), who sponsored it in the Senate, involved
stakeholders early on through roundta- ble sessions. They gained the support of coaches, athletic trainers, students, par- ents, physicians, and professional sports organizations, including the National Football League.
Physician input on HB 2038 by TMA members was “absolutely essential to passing this comprehensive law, which is pro-student athlete, pro-parent, pro- coach, and pro-school district,” Repre- sentative Price said.
Senator Deuell adds that physician feedback on the legislation was impor- tant because “ultimately physicians are the most qualified to diagnose and treat
“The input of these medical profes- sionals helped crystallize language in our bill that I believe can serve as a model for other states in the future,” Representative Price said. “HB 2038 represents the good result that can be achieved when truly knowledgeable and caring individuals work together to draft language for the betterment of our citi- zens. We can all be proud of Natasha’s Law, and I am grateful to TMA and my colleagues for the countless hours many devoted to making the successful pas- sage of this bill possible.” Dr. Spinks applauds Representative Price, Senator Deuell, and other law- makers for creating a law that ensures proper oversight of concussions in a state-of-the-art fashion without control- ling how physicians deliver care.
TMA Ad Hoc Committee on Student Athlete Concussions
Sara Austin, MD, Chair Austin
C. Mark Chassay, MD, MBA Austin Jesse De Lee, MD Randolph Evans, MD William S. Gilmer, MD
Austin Keller
San Antonio Houston Houston
Javier “Jake” Margo Jr., MD Rio Grande City Theodore Spinks, MD Jason Terk, MD
38 TEXAS MEDICINE September 2011
C. Mark Chassay, MD, MBA
Jason Terk, MD
Physician oversight Dr. Spinks says that before HB 2038, management of student athletes with concussions varied widely. “There wasn’t much uniformity in who was treating the concussion. With the legislation, we wanted to bring ev- eryone up to speed on the more current practices in assessing and treating con- cussions. The new law will help ensure those involved in school sports aren’t using 30-year-old guidelines to man- age concussions and help prevent inap- propriate treatment by those who aren’t qualified,” he said.
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