2024-25 Legislature Testimonies

TMA physician leaders recommend lawmakers and government entities consider these proposals in 2024-2025, as medicine works on behalf of patients to improve Texas’ health care system. TMA conducts this work in anticipation of the start of the 89th session of the Texas Legislature convening in January 2025.

Here's a look back at testimonies from the 2023 legislative session.

Below are delivered 2024-2025 testimonies to lawmakers and state agencies.

Budget

TMA Calls for Adequate TMB Funding to Accommodate Workforce Growth
(Senate Committee Testimony by G. Ray Callas, MD, for Budget Support of Texas Medical Board, Feb. 13, 2025)

TMA, Health Care Groups Seek Funding for TWC Child Care Scholarships
(Senate Committee Testimony by Stakeholders Supporting Texas Workforce Commission Funding, Feb. 12, 2025)

TMA Seeks State Funding to Increase Physician Workforce
(Senate Committee Testimony by Robert Emmick Jr., MD, Seeking GME, Other Budget Support, Feb. 5, 2025)

TMA, Physician Groups Seek Senate Support for 2026-27 HHSC Budget Items
(Written Testimony by Tilden L. Childs III, MD, for TMA and Other Physician and Health Care Groups, to Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 4, 2025)

TMA, Fellow Health Stakeholders Seek Support from Senate Finance Committee for DSHS’ 2026-27 Budget
(Written Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee by Janeana White, MD, Representing TMA and Other Health Stakeholders, Feb. 4, 2025)

TMA, Stakeholders Seek Support for DSHS’ 2026-27 Budget Wishlist
(Written Testimony to the Legislative Budget Board by Lauren Gambill, MD, for TMA and Health Stakeholders, Oct. 3, 2024)

TMA Calls on State to Fund the Texas Medical Board Adequately for State’s Population Growth
(TMA Written Testimony by G. Ray Callas, MD, to the Legislative Budget Board, Aug. 28, 2024)

TMA, Stakeholders Urge DSHS to Back Public Health, Disaster Response, Maternal and Child Health in 2026-27 Biennium Legislative Appropriations Request
(TMA/Health Stakeholder Written Testimony by Maria Monge, MD, to Texas Department of State Health Services, May 1, 2024)

Health Information Technology (HIT)

With Proper Oversight, AI is Powerful Aid for Physicians Providing Health Care, TMA Testifies
(TMA Testimony to the House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies, by TMA Council on Legislation Chair Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD; Oct. 1, 2024)

TMA Recommends Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence Use in Health Care
(TMA Testimony to the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce by TMA Council on Legislation Chair Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD; Aug. 27, 2024)

Health Insurance

 TMA Discusses the Importance of Adequate Health Networks for Patients
(TMA Testimony to the House Committee on Insurance by Council on Legislation Chair Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD; Sept. 5, 2024)

TMA Outlines Prior Authorization Burdens, Recommends Improvements
(TMA Testimony to the House Committee on Insurance by Council on Legislation Chair Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD; Sept. 5, 2024)

TMA Seeks Improvements to Health Insurance Coverage, Health Care Policies
(TMA Testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by TMA President G. Ray Callas, MD, and Council on Legislation Chair Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD; May 14, 2024)

Medicaid

TMA Recommends Transparent, Effective Medicaid and CHIP Procurement Process
(TMA Testimony to the House Committee on Human Services Regarding Medicaid and CHIP Procurements; June 4, 2024)

Public Health

Beverages Containing THC Can Harm Children; Physicians Call for Protections
(Testimony by Lindy McGee, MD, Representing TMA, TPS, to the Senate Committee on State Affairs, Oct. 17, 2024)

Physicians Recommend Safeguards Regarding THC-Containing Products
(TMA, Stakeholder Testimony by Robert Emmick Jr., MD, to the Senate Committee on State Affairs, May 29, 2024)

TMA Supports Funding for Cancer Prevention and Research (TMA Testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, May 14, 2024)

Behavioral Health/Mental Health

Physicians Ask Lawmakers to Address Manipulative Social Media Practices that Harm Children
(TMA, Texas Pediatric Society Testimony by Lindy McGee, MD, to the Joint Legislative Committee on Effects of Media on Minors, Study; Jan. 7, 2025)

Physicians Ask Senators for Social Media Oversight to Protect Youths' Mental Health
(TMA, TPS Testimony by Lindy McGee, MD, to the Senate Committee on State Affairs, Oct. 17, 2024)

Psychologists Are Beneficial but Shouldn’t Have Prescriptive Authority, TMA and Psychiatry Groups Tell Lawmakers
(Texas Medical Association and Federation of Texas Psychiatry Testimony by Thomas Kim, MD, to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sept. 18, 2024)

TMA, TPS Seek Ongoing Mental Health Services for Children
(Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society Written Testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sept. 18, 2024)

Maternal Health

TMA Seeks Community Voice on MMMRC, Data-Sharing with CDC (TMA Written Comments to Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, Sept. 27, 2024)

Scope of Practice

Current Physician-Led Care Model Works Best for Patients, TMA Tells Senate Committee
(TMA Written Testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sept. 18, 2024)

Physicians’ Significantly Greater Training Justifies Leadership of Health Care Teams, TMA Tells Senate Committee
(TMA Testimony by Tilden Childs III, MD, to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sept. 18, 2024)

TMA Tells Senators Texans Everywhere Deserve Highest Level of Physician-Led Team-Based Care
(TMA Testimony by Tilden Childs III, MD, to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sept. 18, 2024)

Workforce/Graduate Medical Education

Non-Compete Agreements Should Protect Physicians' Practice Ability and Respect Employers’ Business Interests, TMA Tells Senate Committee
(TMA Testimony by Tilden Childs III, MD, to the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, Oct. 1, 2024)