Physician Leaders Seek Help From Congress To Improve Health Care For Border Patients

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 22 Jun 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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WHAT

Physician leaders from along the U.S.-Mexico border and San Antonio head to Washington, D.C., to discuss the dire health care situation along the U.S.-Mexico border. Physicians representing the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and the Border Health Caucus are meeting one-on-one with U.S. representatives and senators to support legislation that improves health care access. They also have invited congressional leaders to their 4th Annual Border Health Conference. Issues to be discussed at the full-day conference include:

- Impending public health crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border,
- Critical physician shortage and steps needed to shore up access for border patients, and
- Poor physician retention rates and implications for health care along the border.

WHEN

Tuesday, June 23: One-on-one congressional meetings
*Wednesday, June 24, 9 am-3 pm: 4th Annual Border Health Conference

WHERE

South Congressional Meeting Room, Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.

WHO

Physicians moderating the panel discussions at the 4th Annual Border Health Conference include these:

- El Paso surgeon Manny Acosta, MD: Chair, Border Health Caucus, and consultant, TMA Council on Legislation
- Edinburg internist E. Linda Villarreal, MD: Member, TMA Council on Legislation; delegate, Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA); district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus
- El Paso orthopedic surgeon Luis H. Urrea II, MD: President, El Paso County Medical Society; district chair, Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus

Other physicians speaking on behalf of Texas' border patients at Capitol Hill:

Bulverde

-- Family physician Valorie Robertson, MD: Member, TMA Council on Socioeconomics and Border Health Caucus

Eagle Pass

-- Obstetrician and gynecologist David Land, DO: President, Maverick County Medical Society, and member, Border Health Caucus

El Paso

-- Cardiologist Sergio Alvarez, MD: Member, El Paso County Medical Society, TMA, and Border Health Caucus
-- Infectious disease specialist Gilbert A. Handal, MD: Member, TMA Committee on Child and Adolescent Health and Border Health Caucus
-- Family physician Jose "Joe" Luna Jr., MD: Member, El Paso County Medical Society, TMA, and Border Health Caucus
-- Nephrologist Fernando F. Raudales, MD: Member, TMA Council on Socioeconomics; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus
-- Urologist David O. Taber, MD: Past president, El Paso County Medical Society, and member, Border Health Caucus

Laredo

-- Family physician Luis Benavides, MD: Member, TMA Political Action Committee, TMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws, TMA Council of Legislation, and Border Health Caucus

McAllen

-- Gastroenterologist Carlos Cardenas, MD: Member, TMA Board of Trustees and Border Health Caucus
-- Ophthalmologist Chevy Lee, MD: Secretary/Treasurer, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus
-- Internist James Stewart, MD: President, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society; member, TMA Council on Health Promotion; and member, Border Health Caucus

Rio Grande City

-- Family physician Antonio Falcon, MD: Member, TMA Foundation and TMA Foundation Finance Committee; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus

San Antonio

-- Family physician John J. Nava, MD: Member, TMA Council on Health Promotion; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Source
Texas Medical Association