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Legislative & Public Relations Updates
By Beverly Rhodes, MSHP, RHIA

Periodically, I'd like to update the TxHIMA members on specific areas on which the board is focusing, by communicating updates from some of the individual board members. As I mentioned previously, we just completed a board of directors meeting along with budget planning for fiscal year 2004-2005.

I'd like to highlight two of the board members' activities, Stacey McIntosh, Legislative Director, and Jackie Moczygemba, Public Relations Director. Stacey is a first year director and will continue for another year in her role. Jackie is completing her second year as a director, and we are sorry to see her tenure on the board come to a close. She has two teenagers and would like to spend more time with them in their activities; however, she promises that she will return to the TxHIMA board at a later time.

Legislative Update
By Stacey McIntosh

1. Legislative Committee: I have been in contact with almost all of the people listed on the website as serving on the legislative committee to determine if they intend to remain or if I need to fill slots. So far I have three who have agreed to continue in this capacity, and I have two candidates ready to step in. I am requiring these individuals to have email because that is how I am sending the legislation that needs to be monitored. I am included in the CSA Advocacy Liaison Community on CoP. From there, I have been using the RegAlert website to determine the pending legislation in Texas . It is free and I am copying and pasting the proposed regulations to the committee members to review. I give them a deadline to respond, and this has worked so far. I have provided Don Asmonga (CoP facilitator for the ALC) an update of the state advocacy contacts.

2. Manuals: The HIM Manual and the Privacy Manual continue to be available to our members, as well as those outside our profession. We are researching timeframes for revisions to these manuals. Follow-up from last meeting regarding other organizations offering a Privacy Manual on CD at a lower price - I have found a few organizations like hcpro.org that offer a HIPAA training manual with a CD; the cost is $445, and the content is not specific to Texas. Some organizations are offering it at a lower cost but are specialty specific (i.e. American Society of Anesthesiologists selling book and CD for $100-125).

3. Legal Seminar Update: Mary Brandt has agreed to provide three HIPAA audio conferences: March 19th - Common Compliance Problems; April 16th - HIPAA's affect on Clinical Research; and May 14th - HIPAA Security Preparedness. I recognize that an ROI Seminar is potentially valuable. I am currently exploring feasibility of doing this seminar as an audio conference as opposed to a face to face.

4. District Mentoring: District 5: ( Rio Grande area) – The new President is Patti Zamora, who I have not contacted yet. District 9: ( Houston area) - They have an upcoming quarterly meeting March 26. District 10: (SETHIMA) - I have been unable to reach their district representatives thus far.

Public Relations Update
By Jackie Moczygemba

1. Management Seminar Update: The seminar was held December 9 in San Antonio . Rochelle Haby from the NE Methodist Hospital was the site coordinator. I also attended this meeting. The speakers were great, although attendance was somewhat low. Although we had a financial loss, TxHIMA is committed to offering management/leadership seminars to the members, as they have continually requested this topic.

2. FORE Project: The following numbers are from Eileen Murray at AHIMA:

3. District Mentoring: I reminded my district presidents about on-line voting.

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