TOA recently sat down with Austin orthopaedic surgeon Austin Hill, MD, MPH of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas to discuss the orthopaedic trauma department’s experience with scooter injuries in Austin. TOA: What were your thoughts when the scooters first went live and you first started seeing injuries? Austin Hill: The first…
The San Antonio Orthopaedic Group (TSAOG) recently opened its WorkSmart Industrial Rehab Clinic, which focuses on physical and behavioral rehabilitation of injured workers. TOA recently conducted a Q&A with Chris Kean, the chief operating officer of TSAOG, to learn more about the clinic. TOA: What is the “WorkSmart Industrial Rehab Clinic”? Chris Kean: WorkSmart Industrial…
The Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA) is supporting HB 2088, which would direct the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) to maintain and publish a list of drop-off locations for unused drugs. The legislation by Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview) was heard in the House Public Health Committee on April 10, 2019.
The Texas House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services will consider HB 2367 by Rep. Greg Bonnen, MD in a committee hearing on April 18. The bill would prohibit health plans from bidding on the state’s contracts if the plans participate in the practice of dropping a physician from a plan for notifying a…
The Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA) testified in support of SB 2316 in both the House and Senate as a bill that would enhance the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP). Offered by Senator Chuy Hinojosa and Representative Senfronia Thompson, SB 2316 would create an advisory committee of physicians, pharmacists, and electronic health record companies to provide…
The Texas Orthopaedic Association will speak in support of Rep. Bobby Guerra’s legislation – HB 2299 – which would protect out-of-state team physicians when they travel with their teams to Texas. The bill would direct the Texas Medical Board to recognize the out-of-state licenses for those physicians while they are assisting their teams for competitions…
State Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-El Paso) introduced HB 3468, which would allow multiple ASCs to operate within a single ASC on different days. Medicare recently approved the “timeshare ASC” model. However, Medicare indicated that state legislatures must approve the concept at the state level.
Kevin L. Kirk, DO is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in disorders of the foot, ankle and lower leg. Although he treats all general orthopedic conditions, he has a special interest in foot and ankle joint replacement, arthroscopy, reconstruction and trauma surgery. Dr. Kirk received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of…
Texas lawmakers recently introduced several bills that would address the health plans’ unnecessary delays that are resulting in delays for patients. The Texas Orthopaedic Association strongly supports the bills that have been introduced by Sen. Dawn Buckingham, MD, Rep. Greg Bonnen, MD, Rep. Julie Johnson, and Rep. Sarah Davis. Make the prior authorization process easier…
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