PUBLIC HEALTH
“Health matters in Texas” Legislature enhances public health system
BY CRYSTAL ZUZEK Phy- sicians who turned out for First Tuesdays at the Capitol this year and who testified before legislative committees presented an aggressive public health agenda to shield Texans from cigarette smoke, pro- tect them from vaccine- preventable diseases, curb the obesity rate, and sup- port cancer prevention and research. Thanks to their voices and the work of the Texas Medical Associa- tion and the Texas Public Health Coalition (TPHC), the legislature got the mes- sage and passed many key bills that will help physi- cians accomplish some of those goals. Joel Romo, senior direc- tor of government relations for the American Heart As- sociation Southwest Affili- ate, chairs TPHC’s obesity subcommittee. He says the coali- tion’s coordinated messaging had a positive impact in the 2013 legislative session. “Although we weren’t 100-percent successful, we were able to advance some of our proposals and fend off efforts to weak- en others. We had a diverse agenda, and I think we made an impact on public health and can build upon that for the 2015 legislative session.”
TPHC won passage of several innovative immunization
policies. One of them, Senate Bill 63 by Sen. Jane Nelson (R- Flower Mound) and Rep. J.D. Sheffield, DO (R-Gatesville), al- lows pregnant minors and minor parents to consent to their own vaccination. Currently, minor parents can consent to their child’s vaccination but not their own. That law takes effect Sept. 1.
“All parents of new- borns, regardless of their age, need to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases that they might transmit to their babies. This law will enhance the protection that these vul- nerable children need,” said Jason Terk, MD, past chair of the TMA Coun- cil on Science and Public Health, who testified in favor of the bill. SB 63 is one of many immunization-related bills that will enhance physi- cians’ ability to vaccinate more people. In addition, the legisla-
TMA and the Texas Public Health Coalition advocated passage of many bills championed by Sen. Jane Nelson this legislative session.
ture approved more than $332 million in new mon- ey for mental health and substance abuse services and added $100 million to women’s health services funding.
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Com- missioner David Lakey, MD, says support from TPHC, TMA, and other health organizations, as well as physicians’ presence at the Capitol, were invaluable this session. “Our voices were heard. Health matters in Texas. The suc- cesses were a team effort, and I greatly appreciate the doc- tors, health organizations, and advocates who set aside time to make sure health was visible and well represented at the Capitol,” Dr. Lakey said.
DSHS gets more money DSHS emerged from the legislative session without having its budget reduced. The department requested $5.75 billion in funding for the 2014–15 biennium. Lawmakers appropriated $6.23 billion for 2014–15. That amount represents an increase
August 2013 TEXAS MEDICINE 41
HARRY CABLUCK / AP PHOTO
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