TMA FOUNDATION GRANTS RECORD AMOUNT TO TMA PROGRAMS
TMA’s health improvement, quality, and science initiatives will reach more Texans in 2016 thanks to a record of more than $540,000 in grants awarded by the TMA Foundation. The increase reflects newly funded programs. Funded TMA initiatives in 2016 are:
• Hard Hats for Little Heads, • Be Wise — ImmunizeSM
,
• Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching,
• Minority Scholarship Program, • Walk with a Doc — Texas, • Award for Excellence in Academic Medicine, • University of Health, • Hepatocellular Carcinoma Awareness Campaign, • Human papillomavirus webinar continuing medical educa- tion, and
• Texas Two-Step: How to Save a Life Campaign. Visit
www.tmaf.org for more details on each of these out-
standing TMA programs. Grants are made possible thanks to donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as endowments.
Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association.
New Mexico law protects patients’ access to care in Texas
TEXAS DOCTORS will continue to receive a full range of liability protec- tions even when treating New Mexico patients. That issue was in doubt until the New Mexico Legislature took de- cisive action Feb. 17. The legislation preserves vital ac-
cess to Texas physicians and hospitals for residents of Eastern New Mexico who routinely cross the state line for care. The Texas Alliance for Patient Access (TAPA) says the New Mexi- co Legislature recognized access to health care is a public policy priority. Without legislation, thousands of pa- tients would lose ready access to pri- mary and specialized care, says How- ard Marcus, MD, TAPA chair. Under the legislation, the medical
liability laws of the state in which a patient received care now will govern cases involving New Mexicans seek- ing medical care across state lines, provided the patient signs a written consent before receiving treatment. The House and Senate passed the bill unanimously. Gov. Susana Martinez signed the measure into law March 3. The new law is good news for
Texas because the state’s doctors and hospitals have expressed a reluctance to treat visiting New Mexico patients. That followed a New Mexico court ruling that questioned where and under which state laws a suit can be filed if an alleged medical mishap oc- curs. That case, Frezza v. Montano, is pending before the New Mexico Su- preme Court. (Read “Border Battle” in the November 2015 issue of Texas Medicine, pages 57–60, or visit www
.texmed.org/BorderBattle.) For Texas doctors, the lower court
ruling meant accepting increased li- ability risk and costs when treating New Mexico patients. Consequently, many Texas doctors and hospitals were reconsidering their willingness to accept the transfer or referral of a
20 TEXAS MEDICINE May 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76