Annual Session Minutes in Brief

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors met on Saturday, July 30, 2011, to hear reports and recommendations from TAFP’s committees, commissions, and sections. Below are the highlights of the meeting, which included a presentation from Tom Suehs, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

TAFP Foundation Board of Trustees

The Foundation announced the change of the Jim and Karen White Scholarship to a research champion fund pending approval of a supermajority of donors. The Foundation also announced that they raised enough money to fully fund the Roland Goertz, M.D. Scholarship.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee heard from Tom Banning on TAFP’s upcoming Payment Reform Summit. The meeting will be held on Oct. 1 in Austin with nationally known experts presenting on how to prepare for the future health care system.

Finance Committee

The Board approved the proposed fiscal year 2012 operating budget and the fiscal year 2012 capital budget. The Board directed the Finance Committee to bring a recommendation to the next meeting to establish a policy to allow capital spending up to a fixed amount without Board approval.

Nominating Committee

The Board elected the slate of directors and alternates presented by the Nominating Committee. They also approved several AAFP Commission recommendations from the Committee.

Commission on Academic Affairs

The Board approved a recommendation that TAFP plan the Family Medicine Residency Education Leadership Conference and the Chief Resident Conference. Both conferences were previously coordinated by the Faculty Development Center. The Board also approved a recommendation that TAFP staff work with the Texas Medical Association and other primary care organizations to develop collaborative support for the continuation of the Texas Statewide Preceptorship Program.

Commission on Continuing Professional Development

The Board approved a proposed policy for complimentary registrations and social event tickets. The Board also approved a revised CME mission statement to reflect the broader scope of education and approved a revision to the disclosure policy to include license and criminal disclosure.

Commission on Core Delegation

The Board endorsed Lewis Foxhall, M.D., in his bid for re-election as a member of the TMA Board of Trustees. A letter will be sent to members of the TMA House of Delegates. The Board also voted to co-sponsor a resolution to AAFP regarding payment for weight loss counseling and voted to send a resolution regarding low-cost formularies.

Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care

The Board approved a recommendation that TAFP petition the American Academy of Family Physicians to withdraw from the American Medical Association Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), and work directly with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on payment issues if the issues from AAFP Board Chair Lori Heim, M.D.’s June 2011 letter to the RUC are not resolved by April 1, 2012.

Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs

The Commission had a discussion, led by Tom Banning, on the outcome of the 82nd Texas Legislature. The commission also discussed possible opportunities for the interim between legislative sessions, and for policy initiatives in the next Legislature.

Commission on Public Health, Clinical Affairs, and Research

The Board approved a recommendation to submit the One Key Question Initiative resolution to the AAFP Congress of Delegates.

Section on Special Constituencies

The section selected Amer Shakil, M.D., to serve on the Executive Committee, and Terrance Hines, M.D., to serve on the Board of Directors.

Section on the Medical Home

The Board approved a recommendation that TAFP offer a training session at an upcoming symposia on strategies for cost-effective care, including the use of generic medications, imaging tests, and evidence-based evaluation and management of back pain.

Call for Proposed Bylaws Amendments

Any TAFP member wishing to submit a proposed amendment to the TAFP bylaws must submit it to Kathy McCarthy at TAFP headquarters by Dec. 14, 2011. The TAFP bylaws can be viewed online at www.tafp.org/membership/organization/bylaws.pdf.

Amendments can be e-mailed to kmccarthy@tafp.org or faxed to (512) 329-8237. Members submitting a proposed amendment must include a statement giving the rationale for the amendment.

The TAFP Bylaws Committee will review the amendments at the 2012 Interim Session meeting on March 3, 2012. The chair of the Bylaws Committee will present the proposed amendments, with the recommendations of the Bylaws Committee, to the Board of Directors at Interim Session. If the Board of Directors approves the amendment, it will go before the TAFP members in attendance at the TAFP Annual Business Meeting in July 2012.