February/March 2015
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FEBRUARY /M ARCH 2015 Texas Psychiatrist Capitol Day 2015 “No man’s life, liberty or property are Attendance will afford you the opportunity to participate in several activities on February 19 to advocate for your safe while the legislature is in session.” patients and profession. CAPITOL DAY will begin with Judge Gideon J. Tucker activities at the Schmidt-Jones Family Life Center, First United Methodist Church, Great Hall on the 2nd floor (1300 The Texas Legislature is now in session. During the 140- Lavaca, one block west of the Capitol). The schedule day session, the 181 legislators will file over 6,000 bills. includes the following activities: Generally, about 300 filed bills could affect the practice of 10:00 am - 11:45 am:Advocacy Workshop - receive brief - psychiatry in Texas. ings on key legislative issues and tips on effective legislative Member organizations of the Federation, including the advocacy. Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, the Texas Academy 11:45 am - 12:15 pm:Box Lunch – enjoy a brief lunch of Psychiatry and the Texas Society of Child and Adolescent with friends. Psychiatry, urge you to become involved in the political and 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm:Rally on the South steps of the legislative process to ensure that quality psychiatric care Capitol – participate in rally to draw public attention to For additional information about CAPITOL DAY, includ - and patient safety are preserved and protected. important legislation for persons with mental illnesses in ing registration information, please visit the Federation’s You can begin this involvement by attending and partic - Texas. website, www.txpsych.org. ipating in the activities of CAPITOL DAY on Thursday, 1:15 pm - 3:30 pm:Visits with members of the Come to CAPITOL DAY on February 19 prepared to learn February 19, 2015. CAPITOL DAY, sponsored by the Mental Legislature – visit members of the Legislature in teams of and to have a very fulfilling and fun experience.) I Illness Awareness Coalition (Depression and Bipolar advocates to encourage support of needed legislation. Support Alliance of Texas, Mental Health America of Texas, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm:Reception – Wrap-up your visit to the “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t NAMI Texas and the Federation of Texas Psychiatry). Capitol with refreshments and sharing of your experience. mean that politics won’t take an interest in you.” Pericles T E R A I O N D O E F F # # They’re Back!!!! T E Y X R A T Eric Woomer, Public Policy Consultant, Federation of Texas Psychiatry S I A P S Y C H he 84th session of the Texas Legislature change because both candidates in the District 117 - Rick Galindo (R-San Antonio) Twas kicked off at noon on Tuesday, Senate District 26 run-off are Democrats. District 129 - Dennis Paul (R-Houston) District January 13, 2015. As prescribed by the The 8 new members are: District 2 – Bob 132 - Mike Schofield (R-Katy) and District 144 - Constitution, the regular session of the legis - Hall (R-Center), District 4 – Brandon Gilbert Pena (R- Pasadena). lature will last for 140 days. The last day of Creighton (R- Conroe), District 7 – Paul The first order of business after the the session will be June 1, 2015. Bettencourt (R-Houston), District 8 – Van swearing in was election of the Speaker of 2014 was an historic election year in Texas Taylor (R-Plano), District 10 - Konni Burton the House. There was a contested race for because of the record number of open (R-Colleyville), District 16 - Don Huffines (R- House Speaker for the first time since 1975. statewide seats (with no incumbent). The Dallas), District 18 - Lois Kolkhorst (R- Rep. Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) was chal - Eric Woomer seven new Statewide officials are: Greg Brenham), and District 28 - Charles Perry lenged for Speaker by Rep. Scott Turner (R- Abbott replacing Governor Rick Perry; Dan (R-Lubbock). Frisco), a Tea Party favorite. By a record vote Patrick replacing Lt. Governor David Twenty-four new House members were of 127 to 19, Joe Straus coasted to re-election interest, broken policies, and potential viola - Dewhurst; Ken Paxton replacing Attorney sworn into the Texas House of as Speaker of the House. tions of the law that have occurred during General Greg Abbott; Glenn Hegar replacing Representatives. One member, Rodney Speaker Joe Straus announced the your leadership of the agency.” Comptroller Susan Combs; Sid Miller replac - Anderson (R-Grand Prairie) returned to the Legislative Budget Board’s release of the Senator Charles Schwertner (R- ing Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; House after a two-year absence. Three addi - House’s two-year state budget plan. It would Georgetown) filed legislation to help expand George P. Bush replacing Land tional new members will be added to the spend $202.4 billion during the 2016-2017 the ranks of Texas’ mental health profession - Commissioner Jerry Patterson; and Ryan House after special election run-offs in budget cycle, up from an estimated $202.1 als and improve access to mental health Sitton replacing Railroad Commissioner House districts 13, 17, and 123 (the run-off billion in the current cycle, an increase of services. Schwertner’s SB 239 would offer Barry Smitherman dates have not yet been determined). In 0.2%. The plan would appropriate $98.8 bil - student loan repayment assistance for psy - Eight new Senate members were sworn in 2013, the Texas House had 95 Republicans lion in General Revenue, up from $95.2 bil - chiatrists, psychologists, licensed profes - to office, and after the special election run- and 55 Democrats. This session, there will be lion last session. sional counselors, psychiatric mental health off in Senate District 26 to replace Senator 98 Republicans and 51 Democrats (that totals The budget expands graduate medical advanced practice nurses, and clinical social Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) who is 149 - because district 123 involves a special education in order to begin addressing workers who agree to provide direct care to resigning to run for Mayor of San Antonio, election run-off with candidates from both shortages of medical professionals in Texas, underserved Texans. there will be 9 new members in the Texas major parties). Run-off candidates in House and maintains expansions in mental health The shortage of mental health profession - Senate. In 2013, the Senate had 19 Districts 13 and 17 are all Republican. services from the current budget and com - als represents one of the state’s most serious Republicans and 12 Democrats. This ses - The 24 new House members are: District 1 - mits additional dollars to mental health care healthcare challenges, as identified by both sion, there will be 20 Republicans and 11 Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) District 4 - for veterans. Governor-Elect Greg Abbott’s Healthy Texas Democrats. The partisan numbers will not Stuart Spitzer (R-Kauffman) District 10 - John The contracting scandal around the no-bid plan and the Interim Report of the Senate Wray (R-Waxahachie) District 15 - Mark contract with Austin technology company Committee on Health and Human Services. Keough (R-The Woodlands) District 16 - Will 21CT for Medicaid fraud detection continues “Helping those who struggle with mental I NSIDE Metcalf (R-Conroe) District 21 - Dade Phelan to wreak havoc around the Texas Health & illness is an issue very near and dear to my (R-Beaumont) District 23 - Wayne Faircloth (R- Human Services Commission. Multiple heart,” said Schwertner. “As someone whose Calendar . .8 Dickinson) District 50 - Celia Israel (D- Austin) Commission employees have lost their jobs mother spent over 25 years as a nurse in our Congratualations . .6 District 53 - Andrew S. Murr (R-Junction) over the scandal. Now, Sen. John Whitmire (D- state’s mental health system, I know first - District 55 - Molly White (R-Belton) District 58 - Houston) sent a letter to HHSC Commissioner hand what impact a dedicated mental health Foundation Thank You for Support . .7 DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne) District 66 - Dr. Kyle Janek, calling for his resignation. professional can have on the life of someone Editors . .8 Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) District 76 - Cesar Senator Whitmire’s letter said, “I believe it is suffering from mental illness.” Blanco (D-El Paso) District 81 - Brooks abundantly clear that you have conflicted The Federation will be monitoring each TSCAP Annual Convention Landgraf (R-Odessa) District 83 - Dustin yourself out of being capable of running this of these issues with the concerns of psychia - and Scientific Program . .4-5 Burrows (R- Lubbock) District 90 - Ramon crucially important state agency. I have con - try in mind. Please let us know of any ques - TSPP Annual Convention Romero, Jr. (D-Fort Worth) District 94 - Tony ferred with many of my colleagues and others tions, comments or concerns you may have. and Scientific Program . .6 Tinderholt (R- Arlington) District 102 - Linda in state government and believe there is a We welcome your involvement in the legisla - Koop (R-Dallas) District 108 - Morgan Meyer growing consensus that you no longer have tive process, and look forward to a success - TSPP Spring CME Program . .2-3 (R-Dallas) District 115 - Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) the credibility to fix the numerous conflicts of ful session in 2015. I AUSTIN Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians & Texas Academy of Psychiatry Spring Committee Meetings, Continuing Medical Education Program April 24-26, 2015 • Westin Austin at the Domain Hotel • Austin, Texas egister early and plan to attend the PROGRAM SCHEDULE R2015 Committee Meetings and Joint HOTEL RESERVATIONS Provider Spring CME Program of the Texas IMPORTANT!! Austin has several FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Society of Psychiatric Physicians and the events occurring this weekend 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm TSCAP Executive Committee Meeting .