Contents tagged with Emily Briggs
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We must heal our rural health care system
By Emily Briggs, MD, MPH, TAFP President, and Christy Francis, TORCH Board Chair
Texas’ rural health care system is in serious trouble. The numerous problems plaguing rural health are well-documented and have been described as a succession of bad situations that are getting worse. They demand the Legislature’s immediate attention.
Rural Texans are older, sicker, poorer, and less likely to be insured than the average Texan. Rural hospitals, physician practices, and community clinics face significant financial distress and a constant risk of closure due to high uncompensated care costs and unsustainably low reimbursement rates.
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The biggest and brightest family medicine gathering in Texas
The biggest and brightest family medicine gathering in Texas
Report from TAFP’s 2022 Annual Session and Primary Care Summit
Words by Samantha White Photos by Samantha White and Jonathan Nelson … more
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New Braunfels family physician receives TMA’s Young at Heart Award
New Braunfels family physician Emily D. Briggs, MD, MPH is the 2021 Texas Medical Association Young at Heart Award recipient. Doctors from the TMA Young Physician Section announced the award during TexMed, TMA’s annual meeting, held virtually.
The YPS, a group of TMA physicians under age 40 or in their first eight years of medical practice, chose Briggs for her dedication to engaging medical students, resident physicians, fellows, and young physicians in organized medicine.
“I have never been so pleasantly acknowledged — and by a wonderful group of future leaders,” said Briggs, a TMA member for 17 years.
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Member News Q1-2020
Member News
Three TAFP members receive AAFP appointmentsTwo TAFP members were named to participate on AAFP commissions and one member was appointed to serve on the AAFP delegation to the … more
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Family doctors tell Senate Committee to expand access to women's health services, raise Medicaid payment rates
By Jonathan Nelson
The Texas Legislature approached full stride this week as some of its most powerful committees began hearing testimony from state agencies and the public. The Senate Finance Committee took up Article II of the state budget, which contains funding for all agencies and programs that fall under Texas Health and Human Services. That includes Medicaid, CHIP, Healthy Texas Women, the Family Planning Program, services for the aging and those with disabilities, and much more. At roughly $80 billion for the biennium, Article II accounts for more than a third of total state expenditures.
Antonio Falcon, MD, of Rio Grande City, was the first TAFP member to address the committee on Wednesday morning, February 6, advocating for one of organized medicine’s top legislative priorities, the allocation of funding to ensure competitive and appropriate Medicaid payments. Those payment rates have not been increased in a meaningful or enduring manner in nearly two decades. Yet physician practice costs have increased by about 3 percent each year.
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2017 ASPCS Report
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Family medicine went to the beach for the 2017 Annual Session and Primary Care Summit
Words by Perdita Henry and photos by Jonathan Nelson
Family physicians and other health … more
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Family medicine in the 85th Texas Legislature
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Family medicine in the 85th Texas Legislature
By Jonathan Nelson and Perdita Henry
Coming in to the 85th Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker Joe … more
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TAFP governance profile: Section on Maternity Care and Rural Physicians
By Jean Klewitz
Do you have a specific interest in rural medicine? Want to learn how to face challenges as a rural physician or a maternity care provider? This active section can help you work through those challenges. The integration of full-spectrum maternity care in rural family practices is their focus and they seek to create more opportunities for growth in these remote communities.
The section also works with AAFP’s Rural Health Member Interest Group and AAFP’s Reproductive Health Care Member Interest Group to provide opportunities for rural medicine and maternity care education, training, support, interest, and involvement for physicians, students, and residents.
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Physicians tell House committee: Independent practice for nurse practitioners is the wrong answer for Texas primary care shortage
By Jonathan Nelson
The House Public Health Committee took up several bills that would expand the scope of practice of nurse practitioners on a long day of business on Tuesday, April 25. The hearing had stretched into the evening before TAFP member Emily Briggs, MD, of New Braunfels was called to the podium to speak against House Bill 3395 by Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo). The bill would grant nurse practitioners independent authority if they practice in a rural area that doesn’t currently have a physician.
“I’m a family physician in Comal County, which means I see patients in my office,” Briggs told the committee. “I also take care of them in the hospital, I deliver their babies, I take care of their babies after delivering them and I also take care of the rest of their family.”
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