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2 Harris County Physician Newsletter %u2022 February 2025 %u2022 www.hcms.orgThe following is an edited excerpt of Dr. Dwane G. Broussard%u2019s speech from the 2025 HCMS/HAM Installation of Officers held Jan. 17.It is truly an honor to be inducted as the 2025 President of the Harris County Medical Society. I am humbled to serve and promise to maintain the long tradition of service and advocacy of this fine organization.Established in 1903, HCMS is the largest county medical society in the nation, and for 122 years, it has worked hard to fulfill its mission to support the practice of medicine and advance the quality of healthcare provided in Harris County.Thank you to the more than 15,000 members of HCMS for placing your trust in me. I know that, as physicians, we wake up each morning with a singular goal: to provide the best possible care to our patients. HCMS has a legacy of advancing the quality of healthcare provided in Harris County and the state of Texas. HCMS was instrumental in establishing the Texas Medical Center Library, creating the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and opening the John P. McGovern Health Museum. These are just a few of the lasting accomplishments of which we can all be very proud. We work daily with our local medical schools, hospitals, and various healthcare agencies to continuously improve the quality of care that the residents of Harris County and the state of Texas so richly deserve. One of the ways we can improve patient access to quality care is by improving the Medicare system. This has been a major focus of our advocacy efforts for more than 20 years. After such a long struggle, some might ask why we continue. It%u2019s because so many patients depend on Medicare and us. In 2024, 4.1 million Americans turned 65. This was a record number. More than 12,000 Americans turn 65 each day. The number of older adults will more than double over the next several decades. Currently, the over-65 age group is 18 percent of the population and will account for more than 20 percent of the population by 2030. Healthcare utilization in this population will continue to increase, and the demands placed on our healthcare workforce will continue to increase as well. This is why constant Medicare payment cuts jeopardize patient access to care. So many doctors want to care for Medicare patients, but the finances just don%u2019t work. Medicare reform is a top advocacy priority because it is damaging the sustainability of physician practices in our county and in our state. HCMS and the Texas Medical Association continue to advocate for long-term reforms, including an annual inflationary update to Medicare physician payments. This update would be just one positive step forward to a better healthcare system. In addition to Medicare payment reform, scope of practice expansion threatens patient safety. More than 90 percent of patients say a physician%u2019s education and training are vital for optimal care. Moreover, 95 percent of patients say it%u2019s important for a physician to be involved in their diagnosis and treatment. HCMS and the TMA helped defeat 140 scope of practice bills during the 2023 Texas legislative session, and more are likely to emerge this year. Patients prefer and deserve physician-led care. Another legislative priority is the burden of unnecessary prior authorizations required by insurance companies. These unnecessary prior authorization demands can cause delays in care. More than 55 percent of physicians report that prior authorizations can destabilize a patient whose condition was previously stable. We need to advocate on behalf of our patients and eliminate the many intrusions that get between patients and physicians.Another legislative priority is to reduce the technology burden that contributes to physician burnout. We must make certain that technology is an asset to physicians and not a burden. This includes artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic health records. Physicians need to advocate for regulatory and legislative actions to support the appropriate development and deployment of healthcare AI. We need to advocate for broad transparency mandates for all AI-enabled healthcare technologies. In Austin and Washington, we are insisting that physicians have a seat at the table when AI policies are discussed. AI needs to be a tool to reduce administrative burdens and assist physicians in improving healthcare, NOT a means to replace humans in the clinic or deny appropriate insurance claims. We will always advocate against the use of AI alone to treat patients. In addition, HCMS will continue to support and advocate for:%u2022 the physician as the determinant of medical necessity and what is appropriate care,%u2022 increased Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding,%u2022 increased funding for community health centers to improve access in medically underserved communities,%u2022 increased telehealth flexibilities to improve patient access to continuous care,%u2022 encouraging Congress to reauthorize the SUPPORT Act, ensuring that physicians can care for patients with substance use disorders,%u2022 encouraging students from medically underserved populations to pursue training in various healthcare fields.These are uncertain times, and 2025 will likely present some challenges. In the face of change and uncertainty, Harris County physicians will do what we have always done %u2013 focus on our patients. We will focus on how we can help, heal, and empower. We will focus on issues of access, equity, and patient safety. We will advocate for our patients and our community. We will focus on preventative care, promote healthy aging, encourage exercise, nutrition, and improved mental health. We will encourage mindfulness, meditation, and wellness for ourselves and our patients. We will support all our fellow physicians and our staff to ease the burnout that we are experiencing. Our healthcare system has room for improvement%u2014both we and our patients deserve better. As we move forward, let%u2019s stay focused on these priorities. Thank you for your continued support in the year ahead, and thank you for being an HCMS member and encouraging your colleagues to be members in 2025. We are stronger together.President%u2019s PageAll articles that mention HCMS%u2019 stance on state legislation are defined as %u201clegislative advertising,%u201d according to Tex. Gov%u2019t. Code Ann. %u00a7305.027. Executive Vice President Sean Murphy contracts with the printer to publish legislative advertising. Harris County Physician Newsletter (USPS 960-580) is the official monthly publication of Harris County Medical Society, located at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126, Office 713-524-4267, Fax 713-526-1434, www.hcms.org. Annual subscription price is $20. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Harris County Physician Newsletter, 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126.Focusing on the year ahead