Press Release

Senator Wendy Davis Rewarded as Tireless Advocate for Physicians and Patients

Aug 7, 2012

 

Davis Believes a Healthy Texas Means a Healthy Workforce; Wins Physician Support

FORT WORTH, TX – Calling Senator Davis a tireless advocate for physicians and patients, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians proudly endorsed Senator Davis. 

                  “Sen. Davis has championed access to health care and growing our physician workforce because she understands that a healthy Texas means a healthy and competitive economy,” said Dr. Joane Baumer, M.D., a TAFP member and Fort Worth physician. “Family physicians are supporting Sen. Wendy Davis because she has been a steadfast advocate for doctors and for all patients.”

Texas Academy of Family Physicians is a major endorsement for Senator Davis because it is Texas’ largest physician specialty organization.  The group chose Senator Davis over her opponent because she has been a stronger advocate for doctors and patients and because she is focused on improving our economy and the lives of all Texans.

                  “A healthy, competitive workforce ensures our economic prosperity and protects our families,” Davis said.  “I’m honored that the work I’ve done on behalf of doctors and patients has earned this prestigious endorsement.”

Senator Davis has been called “courageous” by those in her district for standing up against extremists and powerful special interests in our State Capitol on important issues to hardworking families such as job creation, health care, education funding, crime, and predatory lending.   This week’s physician endorsement joins a growing list of organizations, community leaders and grassroots level support for Senator Davis’ re-election, showing overwhelming backing of her candidacy and continued momentum in her campaign.

Senator Davis was the recipient of the 2012 Texas Women's Health Champion Award from the Texas Association of OB-GYNs for standing up for women’s health and the needs of Texas families.   

The Academy of Family Physicians agrees that Senator Davis is a champion for those in Senate District 10, evidenced by her fight against harmful budget cuts that will severely impair Texas' ability to meet the health care needs of a growing and aging Texas population.  She has been endorsed by the physicians group because she also advocates between legislative sessions on behalf of physicians and patient needs, proven by her successful efforts earlier this year (joining with the local medical community) to restore funding for cancer-care patients dually eligible under Medicare and Medicaid.  During her time in the Texas Senate, Sen. Davis has:

·       Fought harmful budget cuts levied against programs that train and keep doctors in Texas;

·       Supported increasing funding for diabetic and obesity care;

·       Voted against cuts to family planning and cuts to the Women's Health Program;

·       Voted to protect rates for dual-eligible oncology patients (and successfully fought to restore the cuts during the interim);

·       Voted against the Sonogram bill to preserve the doctor/patient relationship; and,

·       Authored and helped pass into law SB 1107 (Meningitis bill) that improves immunizations in Texas, saving countless lives.

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the state’s largest medical specialty organization representing more than 7,000 family physicians, residents, and medical students, promotes and assures the maintenance of high-quality health care. It provides its members with a unified voice for family medicine and continues to be one of the most patient-oriented, public health-focused organizations in Texas.

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