Advocacy in action AOA, TOMA defend osteopathic care for Texas psychiatric patients Coordinated response led a Harris County, Texas, judge to reverse a decision that threatened access to care. Oct. 11, 2016Tuesday AOA Staff Contact AOA Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Actions taken by the AOA and the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) to ensure access to care for psychiatric patients in Texas have resulted in an advocacy win for the osteopathic medical profession. In September, TOMA officials learned that a probate judge in Harris County, Texas, directed his staff not to accept DO signatures on documents regarding treatment of mentally ill patients. This arbitrary action set off an intense coordinated response from TOMA and the AOA, which were joined by several other Texas state professional medical associations and the Texas Medical Board. As a result, 18-year veteran judge Rory Olsen rescinded his directive on October 7, averting legal action and ending the public health crisis created by his unprecedented action. Efforts on behalf of the 5,500 DOs practicing in Texas led to coverage in the Houston Chronicle and outspoken criticism from the state’s elected officials. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton may review the matter at the request of state Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD, R-Georgetown, chairman of the health and human services committee. “Judge Olsen doesn’t have the authority to decide which physicians he does or does not want to listen to,” wrote Dr. Schwertner. “Regardless of this man’s opinion, the law governing the practice of medicine is exceedingly clear: DOs—just like MDs—are fully trained, licensed, and accredited physicians with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. Period.” Judge Olsen’s directive disrupted the operations of several Houston psychiatric facilities that employ DOs and interrupted the training of resident physicians. AOA legal counsel, working on behalf of TOMA, presented multiple analyses demonstrating the illegality of Judge Olsen’s action. Supporters, including the Texas medical licensing body, along with the 50,000-member Texas Medical Association and the Harris County Medical Society and the Federation of Texas Psychiatry, provided their own legal analysis and requested the policy be retraced. Related articles Advocacy in action: 2 more wins for the profession Congress provides initial CARA funding and the Alabama Medicaid Agency reinstates the Medicaid primary care bonus for providers. Advocacy in action: Massachusetts changes regulations to recognize DOs State updates regulations to recognize osteopathic physicians certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry. Advocacy in action: Osteopathic groups score victories in two states Michigan Osteopathic Association and Idaho Osteopathic Physicians Association lead legislative efforts to improve patient care. More in Patient Care Enhanced payment to support longitudinal care: The new E/M complexity add-on code G2211 The office/outpatient E/M visit complexity add-on code was established to improve payment for the time, intensity and practice expense resources involved when physicians furnish O/O E/M office visit services that enable them to build longitudinal relationships with patients. The dark side of semaglutide: Gastric emptying delays pose a risk when undergoing surgery Semaglutide, hailed as a weight loss miracle, is facing new scrutiny over the potential risks to patients who are taking it and undergoing medical procedures. Previous article5 tips for teaching the next generation of osteopathic physicians Next articleOsteopathic recognition is key to GME program's forward-thinking approach
Advocacy in action: 2 more wins for the profession Congress provides initial CARA funding and the Alabama Medicaid Agency reinstates the Medicaid primary care bonus for providers.
Advocacy in action: Massachusetts changes regulations to recognize DOs State updates regulations to recognize osteopathic physicians certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.
Advocacy in action: Osteopathic groups score victories in two states Michigan Osteopathic Association and Idaho Osteopathic Physicians Association lead legislative efforts to improve patient care.
Enhanced payment to support longitudinal care: The new E/M complexity add-on code G2211 The office/outpatient E/M visit complexity add-on code was established to improve payment for the time, intensity and practice expense resources involved when physicians furnish O/O E/M office visit services that enable them to build longitudinal relationships with patients.
The dark side of semaglutide: Gastric emptying delays pose a risk when undergoing surgery Semaglutide, hailed as a weight loss miracle, is facing new scrutiny over the potential risks to patients who are taking it and undergoing medical procedures.