Citing the need for an “adequately staffed and resourced” Texas Medical Board (TMB) in bolstering the state’s physician workforce and subsequent access to care, Texas Medical Association President G. Ray Callas, MD, advocated for the Texas Legislature to meet the agency’s funding request.
TMB set “a historic record” by issuing over 7,000 new medical licenses in the last fiscal year, more than the total number of physicians in 21 states plus the District of Columbia combined, per Dr. Callas’ Feb. 13 written testimony, not to mention the thousands of license renewals the agency reviews.
TMA supports TMB’s request for $11.2 million in additional funds over the next two years to support filling 40 full-time-equivalent positions. TMA also supports TMB’s request to increase its appropriations to 85% of its total revenue, 10% of which would go “to enhance its operations and achieve additional efficiencies to better serve the citizens of Texas in promoting public health and safety,” according to the agency’s legislative appropriations request.
Dr. Callas underscored “the absolute necessity to grow our physician workforce to keep pace with our state’s steady rise in population,” and referenced the Feb. 5 written testimony of Robert Emmick Jr., MD, a member of TMA’s Committee on Physician Distribution and Health Care Access.
House committee appointments set
On Feb. 13, House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced committee assignments, listed below.
House Committee on Appropriations, which handles budgetary matters including funding for public health, Medicaid, and medical education:
- Chair – Greg Bonnen, MD (R-Friendswood)
- Vice Chair – Mary Gonzalez (D-El Paso)
- Tom Oliverson, MD (R-Cypress)
Newly formed House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, which may take up matters pertaining to artificial and augmented intelligence:
- Chair – Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake)
- Vice Chair – Salman Bhojani (D-Euless)
House Committee on Higher Education, which oversees undergraduate and graduate medical education:
- Chair – Terry Wilson (R-Georgetown)
- Vice Chair – Donna Howard (D-Austin)
- Suleman Lalani, MD (D-Sugar Land)
House Committee on Human Services, which reviews the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and other health-related matters:
- Chair – Lacey Hull (R-Houston)
- Vice Chair – Christian Manuel (D-Nederland)
House Committee on Insurance, which reviews health insurance issues and those related to the Texas Department of Insurance:
- Chair – Jay Dean (R-Longview)
- Vice Chair – Hubert Vo (D-Houston)
House Committee on Public Health, which reviews a variety of health care services and programs, infrastructure, and infectious diseases:
- Chair – Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston)
- Vice Chair – Elizabeth “Liz” Campos (D-San Antonio)
House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Disease Prevention and Women’s and Children’s Health, addressing those named subjects:
- Chair – James Frank (R-Wichita Falls)
- Vice Chair – John H. Bucy III (D-Austin)
House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Broadband, which may impact telemedicine:
- Chair – Rafael Anchía (D-Dallas)
- Vice Chair – Will Metcalf (R-Conroe)
House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Workforce, which may address health care workforce needs:
- Chair – Oscar Longoria (D-Mission)
- Vice Chair – Caroline Harris Davila (R-Round Rock)
For more on TMA’s legislative work at the Texas Capitol, visit the state advocacy page.
To get involved, register for one of the remaining First Tuesdays at the Capitol events March 4, April 1, and May 6, and check out these six ways to get involved in advocacy.
Phil West
Associate Editor
(512) 370-1394
phil.west[at]texmed[dot]org
Phil West is a writer and editor whose publications include the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Austin American-Statesman, and San Antonio Express-News. He earned a BA in journalism from the University of Washington and an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin’s James A. Michener Center for Writers. He lives in Austin with his wife, children, and a trio of free-spirited dogs.