January 22, 2007
 

TOA Executive Director's Update
  

By Donna Parker
TOA Executive Director

 

This week we would like to send you to the Workers’ Compensation page of the TOA website.  Here you will find TDI information updates, TOA Workers’ Compensation Committee activities, and a comprehensive report by TMA giving the history of HB7 and an assessment of the workers’ compensation system reforms.

Workers’ compensation and HB7 was discussed at length during this weekend’s TOA Board of Directors meeting.  Dr. Steve Wilson, Chair, listed TOA Work Comp Committee recommendations for HB7 clean up and items to be included in future language.  Of major concern were the following items:

  • 1. No retrospective deniability after pre-authorization

  • 2. If treatment guidelines are used then pre-authorization should not be required

  • 3. Guidelines are advisory only

  • 4. True peer to peer review should be required only when treatment is outside of the guidelines

We will post work comp information, as well as all other issues of interest to orthopaedic surgeons, as soon as we receive it.  You are encouraged to use the TOA website and to be informed.  Dr. Teuscher and I welcome your comments. 

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Texas District By District: John Otto
    

State Representative John Otto (R-Dayton) was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November, 2004. Set to begin his second term in office, Rep. Otto has served as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, served as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on County Affairs, and also served as a member of the House Committee on Rules and Resolutions.

The 79th Regular Legislative Session was John Otto's first as a member of the House, but his impact was anything but freshman-like. His

knowledge of our tax system and experience as a practicing CPA made him instrumental in helping develop and ultimately pass a new, and fairer, business tax system in Texas. During the regular session, Rep. Otto was first named to the House Bill 3 Conference Committee and then to the House Bill 3 Select Committee. Most recently, during the third called special session, he was a coauthor of the plan that made possible the largest property tax cut in Texas history.

His work has earned him several awards to date. He was named "Republican Freshman of the Year" by members of the Texas House of Representatives, "2005 Freshman of the Year Award" by members of the House Republican Caucus, "Most Valuable Freshman" by editors of "Capitol Inside", and "Rookie of the Year" by "Texas Monthly."

John Otto is a businessman, community leader and native of Dayton, Texas. He is a 1966 graduate of Dayton High School and attended Texas A&M University where he received his BBA in Accounting in May, 1970.

John and his high school sweetheart, Nancy Whitman, were married in December, 1969.

While at Texas A&M University, John was a member of the Ross Volunteer Honor Guard, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and was head drum major his senior year. A distinguished military graduate, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army upon graduation and reported to Fort Benjamin Harrison for finance officer training.

John worked on the audit staff of KPMG in Houston until October, 1975 when he and Nancy returned to Dayton to begin John’s business and raise their two sons. Today, John is a self-employed certified public accountant and financial services representative. He has been in business for over 25 years and has been very involved in his community during that time.

John and Nancy’s family consists of son Bryan and wife Christi of Humble, and son Jason and wife Brandee with granddaughters Bailee and Emilee of Kyle.

Email John Otto to thank him for his work.
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This Week In Texas: Mignon McGarry Memos

By Mignon McGarry
TOA Legislative Advocate / Memos: Tue Jan. 16 & Thu Jan. 18, 2007
TOA Online Version: All Memos

 

Tuesday January 16, 2007
Inaugural festivities were hampered by icy weather in Austin, however last week state comptroller Susan Combs delivered a sunny financial

forecast informing the legislature that there is a 14 billion dollar surplus for the 2008-2009 budget.  A few factors cloud the issue:

  • Local property tax cuts passed last session equal around 13.5 billion dollars
    and must be replaced by state spending.
  • There is a constitutionally mandated spending cap (imposed back in 1978) and based on economic indicators. The cap is currently set at 13.1 percent growth.

The legislature can do one of three things:

  • Vote to exceed the spending cap.
  • Quickly pass a constitutional amendment asking voters to approve
    exempting property tax cut costs from the spending cap.
  • Cut state agency budgets.

As always, the budget drives everything. We will keep you informed.

In the meantime, the Senate released committee assignments the Friday night prior to the Inaugural. The Senate Standing Committees can be found here. Stay tuned for House committee assignments later this month.

TOA Note: Added to the website 01-18-2007 . . .
Click here to view the Committee Assignments for Texans in the 110th U.S. Congress.
 

Thursday January 18, 2007
We now have a full House !

Pearland Republican Mike O'Day won a runoff election Tuesday to replace deceased state Rep. Glenda Dawson. O'Day, 56, is retired and the owner of a family water-well-drilling company.

The House composition is now officially 81 Republicans and 69 Democrats.
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43rd Annual Orthopaedic Symposium
43rd Annual Orthopaedic Symposium:
The Business of Medicine and its Impact on Patient Care
At the Houstonian Hotel: April 20-21, 2007

Eighteen of the most influential people in medicine and business speaking on topics that have an impact on patient care: current legislative issues, running your practice, hospital relations, revenue production, and fraud and abuse.

Program Chair
Sherwin J. Siff, MD
G. William Woods, MD

Co-Chair
Peggy Pierce, BBA, FACMPE
Pam Potter, MBA, CMPE, CHE, CHFP

Location:
St. Luke’s 43rd Annual Orthopaedic Symposium will be held at The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa. The Houstonian, located in Houston, Texas, offers a world class fitness center, tennis courts, and golf courses. For more information, visit their website.  Complimentary scheduled shuttle service to the nearby Galleria shopping area and complimentary hotel parking in a covered garage are also available.

Register Online Now:
You can register securely online for this conference here.  For more information you can call 832-355-4200 or you can click here to view the flyer.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
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2007 Annual Meeting Call For Abstracts: Closed

The abstract call for the 2007 Annual Meeting is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract!  We will soon contact those who submitted an abstract with more information.

Please note, it is not too late to submit an abstract for a poster presentation for our meeting.  If this interests you, please contact John at (800) 370-1505 or johntt@toa.org.

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