CDC Says Texas Swine Flu Death is First in U.S.
from The Houston Chronicle, April 29, 2009
The first reported death in the United States from the swine flu outbreak was that of a 23-month-old Mexico City boy who fell ill in Brownsville and was transported for treatment at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, where he died Monday, officials said. Also, officials suspended all high school athletic and academic competition statewide until at least May 11 because of the spreading flu, which has prompted five districts to cancel classes entirely, including three in suburban San Antonio. More

Fretting on Flu, House Hikes its Hygiene
from The Dallas Morning News, April 29, 2009
House Administration Committee Chairman Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, just announced that members will be given bottles of Purell, the hand sanitizer, as a precaution against swine flu. "Courtesy of TMA," Geren said, referring to the Texas Medical Association, the main lobby group for doctors. More

Federal Officials Pressured to Tighten Border Crossings Amid Swine Flu Outbreak
from The Dallas Morning News, April 30, 2009
Pressure mounted on federal officials Wednesday to tighten health screening or even close border crossings with Mexico to stem the spread of a new strain of influenza. More

$1 Million Ad Campaign Attacks Government-Run Health Care
from The Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2009
A conservative group will begin a $1 million television advertising campaign Tuesday, warning Congress not to enact a government-run health care plan similar to those in other countries. The ads feature British and Canadian doctors saying the health care plans in their countries reduce choices and asserting that patients have died while awaiting care. More

Audience Generation, LLC Launches MedBuzz for Texas Medical Association
from PR Newswire, April 28, 2009
Audience Generation launched MedBuzz, a powerful new online advertising and content syndication service for the Texas Medical Association that has extended TMA's online reach, increased awareness and website traffic, and generated incremental non-dues revenue for the largest state medical association in the United States. More

Opinion: Now Is The Time For Medical Malpractice Reform
from CNBC, April 22, 2009
Now that President Barack Obama has made healthcare a priority for his administration, we should all hope that his plan to provide greater access to health insurance and lower the cost of healthcare will also include tort reform for medical malpractice lawsuits. Without much-needed reforms to limit jury awards for non-economic damages, the cost of malpractice insurance will continue to rise. That, in turn, will increase the exodus of physicians from states without limits. And large jury awards make healthcare needlessly expensive for all Americans. More

Medical Community Hopes to Renew Ties with Former Residents
from The Wichita Falls Times Record-News, April 25, 2009
As a medical student at St. George’s University in Grenada, Girish Murthy is now doing his clinical rotations in New York. His studies keep him busy in other parts of the world, but the ties he has to the Wichita Falls area, where he grew up, are as strong as they’ve ever been. The medical community here is working to make them even stronger for Murthy and other medical students who have connections to the area. More

Letter: Advocate Should Support Statewide Smoking Ban
from The Victoria Advocate, April 23, 2009
I am saddened by the reluctance of the Advocate to understand the urgent need for a statewide smoking ban in public businesses. As a physician, I see firsthand the hazardous effects of tobacco on adults, children and pregnant women. The damage done to the body of a smoker is simply astounding. Texas has a long tradition of passing laws that protect its citizens. Private-business owners must have unchained fire exits, restaurant owners need to keep food fresh and free of insects and workplaces must be safe and accessible. More

Biggest Medical Mystery: The Bill
from CNNMoney, April 22, 2009
Ask most Americans how much it costs to visit a doctor and they probably do not know. Ask doctors what their fees are and they're not likely to know that either. Health care prices - both physician fees and prices of medical procedures - have been cloaked in mystery for decades. But as the number of people who are uninsured, underinsured or are opting for higher-deductible insurance plans grows, consumers have reason to care. More

How Tough is the Texas Medical Board?
from The Austin American-Statesman, April 22, 2009
With some doctors complaining the Texas Medical Board is too harsh and several lawmakers saying it’s time to rein in the board, you might think it’s one of the tougher boards in the country. So do you think Texas ranks among the top 10 toughest board in the U.S.? Guess again. Top half? Not even. More

Pull the Plug on Health Care Holdup in Texas
from The Austin American-Statesman, April 23, 2009
In Texas, access to health care is rationed by ZIP code. If you live on the border or in the state's vast rural areas, you'll have trouble getting to a family doctor. Even if you live in a city, you might have trouble finding a family physician if you live in the wrong ZIP code. Doctors know that, and legislators know that. There are solutions offered to fix it, but as is often the case, politics and influence can wallop good public policy. More