BREAKING NEWS....3:18 pm Friday, May 10, 2011

Happy to report that our HB has been set for Senate Hearing on Tuesday! This will be very different from other hearings because it will be very brief.  We expect it will be done before 12pm.
This puts us in very good shape to pass this bill.
Snapper Carr

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A TEXAS SIZED THANK YOU to David Olvera and Mark Kirchner because they stayed almost 24 hours at the House Public Health Committee (until 4:30am on Thursday morning April, 21st) to testify on OUR behalf for HB 2703: relating to Nurse practitioners and Physician Assistants prescription privileges. (Thanks also to Ed Khu, who had to leave around 8pm.)  

We are happy to report it passed out of committee and Snapper and the entire Focused Advocacy team are working diligently to move it through the Senate  quickly. Thank you to all who have made contributions or commitments to help pay for this effort.

Are you a clinician, technician, administrator or business owner who would benefit from the ability to accept prescriptions from Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants- WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW??  (If you practice in Texas the answer is YES!!)   

Have you made your contribution??   

We are asking each member to help support these important legislative initiatives- the suggested amount is $20 a month or $240/ year...But, please give what you can AFFORD to give to this effort.  We are $9850.00  short from meeting our legislative fundraising goal- and if we can't count on our membership to help offset the expense, we cannot guarantee this will be a benefit that TAOP can continue to offer moving forward.   

You can pay in one lump sum or installments!   

Just let us know you value the work TAOP is doing on your behalf by making a contribution today! If you have not made your 2011 donation toward the TAOP legislative advocacy effort please do so now!

Contribution form  

OR click on the Donate Now button to donate online.

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TEXAS HOUSE GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO CRADDICK BILL

(AUSTIN) - The Texas House of Representatives gave approval to Senate Bill 874 in lieu of House Bill 1264 by Rep. Tom Craddick (Midland) to establish a separate Medicaid provider type for orthotic and prosthetic suppliers.
"With the passage of this bill, Medicaid patients should be able to more readily locate an orthotics or prosthetics supplier in the Medicaid provider directory," Craddick explained. "This bill corrects a misguided classification and will ultimately help patients find the specialty care they need."
Senate Bill 874 will provide the mechanism to implement an accurate Medicaid enrollment process for orthotics and prosthetics providers. Upon implementation by the Health and Human Services Commission, patients will be able to locate these specialized health care providers within the Medicaid provider directory when they need to find a participating provider to obtain orthotic and prosthetic care.
"Many thanks to Midlander Mike Allen of Allen Orthotics and Prosthetics for bringing this important issue to my attention," Craddick said. "When the changes are made to the classification system and the provider directory, it is my hope that patients are better able to find an orthotics or prosthetics supplier."
Senate Bill 874 was authored by Senator Troy Fraser.  Representative Craddick carried identical legislation in the Texas House with House Bill 1264.
Orthotists and Prosthetists are licensed health care providers. They and the facilities in which they serve their patients are subject to the oversight and regulation of the Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics.  

Thank you for attending the 2011 TAOP Meeting in Fort Worth!