Texas Legislative UpdateJune 2024
As you may already know, Texas' legislature convenes only for the first five months of odd-numbered years. However, significant political developments in 2024 could profoundly impact emergency medicine and patient care for years to come. This year is shaping up to be the most active election season Texas has seen in decades. Dozens of new faces will be in office in January 2025 when the legislature convenes. New candidates can bring a fresh perspective to governance, but the loss of institutional knowledge creates a daunting challenge for emergency medicine and efforts to maintain the standards important to our practice. That is why EMPACT is planning to be more active this election cycle than in past campaign seasons. It is important for us to continue to recognize the efforts of those who support the medical community and to invest our resources in the successful election of candidates we support. Another key point is that a lot happens during the “interim” period between legislative sessions. This time is crucial for getting things done behind the scenes, and being involved now can have a big impact on our well-being and future legislative success. TCEP and our lobby team will be busy with important tasks like attending legislative hearings on emergency medicine issues, keeping an eye on rulemaking at state agencies like the Texas Medical Board and the Texas Department of Insurance, and, most importantly, educating new and returning legislators about the realities of emergency medicine in Texas. But we can’t do it alone. Physicians are facing a myriad of policy and political issues today in Austin and in Washington. These issues are playing out in boardrooms, in the media, in political campaigns, and most urgently in the halls of the capitols where policy makers are considering decisions that will have long-reaching implications for medicine. Matters of fair payment, patient and provider safety, and the structure of the state agencies that oversee your practice are just some examples of regular topics being discussed by legislators at the state and federal level every day. Even more concerning, these issues are also part of political agendas designed to limit your ability to practice medicine in the best way for your patients. We'll definitely be tackling these tough issues when the legislature meets in Texas in 2025, but the current election season is heating up, and we can't wait until January to start educating legislators about what's important to us. The outcome of these political and policy efforts will potentially have implications for your practice for years to come. The best way to make sure TCEP can actively shape good public policy is with your support—through your time, energy, and EMPACT contributions. Your personal and monetary contributions will help us keep expert representation at the capitol, support candidates who back emergency medicine, and most importantly, protect you and your colleagues. Please support the efforts of TCEP and EMPACT by contributing today. |