|
|
|
|
|
|
TOA
President's Update
|
|
By David
Teuscher, MD
TOA President
On January 9th, the 80th Texas Legislature will soon convene. TOA is already tracking and monitoring legislation so
our members can be routinely updated on issues important to
medicine. It is up to all of us to keep in touch with our
elected representatives during this legislative session and to
proactively serve as an information resource to our
legislators.
|
|
|
Mignon McGarry, TOA's Legislative
Advocate, and her staff are standing by to lead us through this
session. John Pike, TOA's Workers Compensation Consultant, will be able to
answer your questions regarding TDI activities, as well as legislation
concerning workers comp in Texas. Additionally, TOA's Executive Director,
Donna Parker, will make sure legislative communication and grass roots
action will be coordinated.
| Contact
information: |
Mignon McGarry
TOA Legislative Advocate
504 W. 14th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
512-708-9053
Fax 512-708-9054
E-mail: Mignon@MignonM.com |
John M. Pike
TOA Workers Compensation Consultant
401. W. 15th Street, Suite 695
Austin, TX 78701
512-469-7900
Fax 512-391-0030
E-mail: jpike2@austin.rr.com |
| [top]
[back
to e-connect archive page]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This Week In Texas:
Initial 80th Session Update
|
|
At noon on Tuesday January
9th, both chambers of the Texas Legislature will convene for
the 80th regular session.
The Lieutenant Governor will convene the Senate and across
the |
|
rotunda the
Secretary of State will call the House of Representatives to
order.
Their first order of business in the House will be to elect
a Speaker. The race is between incumbent Speaker Tom
Craddick (R- Midland) and Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie).
In the Senate, we expect chairmanships and committee
assignments to be announced as early as that day. The House
Speaker usually will assign chairmanships and make committee
assignments later in January.
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor will be inaugurated the
following week on Tuesday, January 16.
[top]
[back
to e-connect archive page]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissioner Betts Signs
Rules to Improve Medical Dispute Resolution
|
|
|
AUSTIN, TX – Major changes in the Texas workers’ compensation
medical dispute resolution process brought about in House Bill
(HB) 7 (79th Legislature, Regular Session) are being
implemented in rules adopted recently by Commissioner of
Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts.
HB 7 allowed for the certification of Workers’ Compensation
Health Care |
|
Networks by the Texas Department of
Insurance. Employers who purchase workers’ compensation insurance
may have the option of choosing a network to provide health care to
their injured employees. The new rules adopted by Commissioner Betts
provide a process where non-network medical necessity disputes are
processed in the same manner as disputes in networks or in health
maintenance organizations.
“These rules are intended to improve efficiency and consistency in
resolving medical disputes in the workers’ compensation system,”
Commissioner Betts said.
The medical dispute resolution rules (28 Texas Administrative Code
§§133.305, 133.307, and 133.308) implement the HB 7 amendments to
Texas Labor Code §§413.031 and 413.032. The rules were published in
the Texas Register on December 22, 2006 and will become effective on
January 15, 2007.
Click
here to view the key provisions of the new medical dispute
resolution (MDR) rules.
[top]
[back
to e-connect archive page]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Faulty Doctor Rating System
to be Suspended
|
|
The Dallas-Ft. Worth
Star Telegram reports that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
has agreed to delay the launch of a Web site that would allow
consumers to compare physician performance and price, citing
concerns from the Texas Medical Association. At issue is a
rating category that includes health care providers who fall
short of Blue Cross standards, other physicians for whom Blue
Cross lacks information, and specialists for whom Blue Cross
has no way to measure performance. |
|
The company still remains
committed to rolling out the site, but plans to listen to
suggestions from physicians to address their concerns while
retaining what it calls a “robust tool” for consumers.
To view the original article
click
here.
To view a related Texas Medical Association
article click
here.
[top]
[back
to e-connect archive page] |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Save The Date! |
|
|
Texas Orthopaedic Association
2007 Annual Meeting & Scientific Session
Thursday, May 10th – Sunday, May
13th
Four Seasons Hotel
Austin, Texas |
|
TOA Annual Meeting Itinerary
(Preliminary
Lineup) |
Thursday, May 10 PM
|
|
| 1:00 pm -
5:00 pm |
Get Paid Now! Collect From
Insurance Companies & Patients’ Billing & Collections Seminar
for orthopaedists & practice managers |
|
***Watch the TOA web site for
times and registration fees!*** |
Friday, May 11 AM
|
|
| 8:00 am -
12:30 pm |
Communication Course |
| |
|
| Friday, May 11
PM |
|
| 1:00 pm -
5:00 pm |
Legislative Briefing and
Capitol Visits
(in conjunction with T-BONES’ meeting) |
| 7:00 pm |
Reception |
| |
|
| Saturday, May
12 |
|
| 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Scientific General Session &
Workshops |
| |
|
| Sunday, May 13
AM |
|
| 8:00 am – 10:30 am |
Scientific General Session &
Resident Quiz Bowl |
| 10:30 am |
Mothers Day Brunch |
|
|
|
| Sunday,
May 13 PM |
|
| 1:00
pm – 4:00 pm |
Workers
Compensation Seminar |
|
|
|
|
Preliminary program and
registration information coming soon!
(800) 370-1505 toll free •
www.toa.org |
|
|
|
|
Attendance at the TOA General
Sessions is gratis for TOA’s Orthopaedic Community Affiliates. Thank you for your continued support of and
interest in TOA. |
|
[top]
[back
to e-connect archive page]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Last Call For Abstracts:
Deadline January 15,
2007 |
|
|
Please submit your abstract to the TOA 2007 Program Committee. The 2007 Annual Meeting will be held at the fabulous Austin Four Seasons Hotel May 10-13. Special events will be planned for spouses on Saturday and Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Since we will have less time for scientific programming on Saturday and Sunday morning, we are changing the presentation time from ten to
|
|
five minutes. Other orthopaedic
programs (such as the recent AAHKS meeting in Grapevine) move very well in this format. Dr. Robert Kramer, TOA Program Chair and Dr. Eddie Seade, CME Program Chair, have begun lining up subspecialty presentations and workshops.
Our TOA Program Committee welcomes abstract submittals from residents…remember the cash prizes of $1500 to $500.
Abstract forms can be found by clicking here and the Disclosure found can be found
here
(both
of which need to be completed for submitting an abstract).
It is not too early to register for the 2007 TOA Annual Meeting although you will receive a preliminary program in February.
For registration click here.
[top]
[back
to e-connect archive page]
|
|
|
|
|
|
You have subscribed to this newsletter. If your email
address has changed, please update
your account. Thank you!
|
|
