“The natural consequence of this policy would be improved health among Texans, improved productivity, and decreases in health care spending.”
know about the ImmTrac consent pe- riod, and their immunization data are expunged.
For a full list of TPHC legislative priorities and for information on the group’s members, mission, and advo- cacy areas, visit
www.texmed.org/publi chealthcoalition. Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound),
chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, says recommen- dations from groups like TPHC help her make the case for important public health legislation each session. “The ideas are thoughtful and well-
researched, and I greatly appreciate the time and effort that went into develop- ing an agenda that aligns very closely with my own goals for the legislative session,” she said. Jason Terk, MD, chair of TMA’s Coun-
Last year, the Texas Public Health Co-
alition (TPHC) hosted four University of Health programs to educate legislators and their staff members and state agen- cy staff members about key public health issues affecting the state. The forums, held at the Texas Medi-
cal Association building, addressed how public health affects the state’s economy and the impact immunizations, obesity, and smoking have on physical and fiscal health. Program presenters polled forum attendees about each forum’s subject matter. TPHC will analyze and use the responses to help provide direction for policy and legislative strategy during this legislative session. Herminia Palacio, MD, chair of TPHC, says the forums are part of a new ap- proach aimed at engaging lawmakers before the 2013 legislative session. “In addition to educating legislators in
our University of Health programs, the coalition has also been posting blog en- tries related to our public health priori- ties on TMA’s blog, MeAndMyDoctor, to generate buzz,” Dr. Palacio said. TPHC consists of more than 20 orga- nizations dedicated to advancing core public health principles at the state and community levels. TMA is a charter member.
28 TEXAS MEDICINE February 2013
In December, TPHC unveiled its legis- lative priorities on immunizations, tobac- co use, obesity, and cancer prevention for the 2013 session. Member organizations are focusing on some familiar territory — increasing the amount of required physi- cal activity in Texas schools and support- ing comprehensive statewide legislation that eliminates exposure to secondhand smoke in all indoor workplaces through- out Texas, for example.
The coalition also is pushing for new, innovative immunization policies. They include:
• Giving minor parents, who can con- sent to their child’s vaccination, the ability to consent to their own vacci- nation.
• Supporting a statewide disease pre- vention and health quality initiative to improve vaccination rates among employees of state-licensed day-care and early child-care facilities.
• Allowing patients to consent to their vaccination records remaining in Imm- Trac, the state’s immunization registry, until they reach age 26. ImmTrac cur- rently stores vaccination records until a person’s 18th birthday and gives the person a year to consent to hav- ing the records stored there. Dr. Pala- cio says that many 18-year-olds don’t
cil on Science and Public Health, says the TPHC legislative recommendations
“reflect the combined wisdom of stake- holders representing many organizations concerned with the health of Texans” and dovetail with the council’s priorities. Texas Department of State Health
Services (DSHS) Commissioner David Lakey, MD, says it’s important for health organizations to have a unified message. “We need to work together to make
progress in the areas of tobacco use, obe- sity, and vaccine-preventable diseases — not just because of the economic ben- efits for the state, but more importantly because those efforts would improve the health of people in Texas,” he said.
Save lives, save money Dr. Palacio stepped into the role of TPHC chair in 2008, just in time to lead it into the 2009 legislative session. At the time, the economy had crashed, and attempt- ing to get state funding for public health initiatives was an uphill battle. Dr. Pa- lacio, executive director of the Harris County Health Department, learned a lot during her first session as TPHC chair. “I learned in 2009 that putting for-
ward an agenda calling for new or re- aligned public health expenditures in the wake of a budget deficit was a difficult endeavor. Since then, the coalition has been more mindful of making the con-
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