Volume 25, Issue 2

own Dr. Crystal Wright wrote one version of this bill! This hearing took place at a reasonable time, giving me plenty of time to visit the TSA office and catch a taxi out to the airport for my return flight home. As mentioned, my testimony before the House Committee on Public Health, chaired by Representative Lois Kolkhorst, was never heard. Nevertheless, the bill we were supporting, to provide the Texas Medical Board with legislative authority over the use of local anesthetics in an outpatient setting, was well heard in the late night hearing.

Much of my efforts in Austin also dealt with regulatory issues. I testified twice before the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The first time was in regard to Medicaid payment for the care provided by anesthesiologist assistants. There were several anesthesiologist assistants present who also testified. The result of the hearing was that Texas Medicaid agreed to pay for anesthesia services provided by anesthesiologist assistants. And in mid- July, I again was testifying against Medicaid payment cuts at another hearing of the HHSC. Only time will tell if our talking points were well heard. Perhaps we will know the outcome by the time of our annual meeting.

And my story is only one of many. Several other TSA members testified before the legislature or the various regulatory committees. My thanks goes out to each and every one for the time and commitment they have devoted to the Society.

I have been fortunate to have a supportive wife, Susan, who understood the need for me to make sometimes last minute trips to Austin on behalf of the TSA. I also have to thank Dr. Chuck Whitten, my boss at UT Southwestern, and all of my associates there who helped cover my absences, for their support during this legislative session. And without the staff in the TSA office—Chris Bacak, Dawn Atwell, Jan Collinson, Clayton Stewart, Judy Bigger and Anita Garia—my life would have not been so easy each time I visited Austin. It takes a village…