Austin Attorney Chosen as New TAPA LeaderJackson will Protect Texas’ Historic Medical Liability Reforms Brian Jackson
Executive Director Austin, TX-- Austin attorney Brian Jackson has been named the new executive director of Texas Alliance for Patient Access. Jackson replaces the retiring Jon Opelt, who led the organization for 19 years. Jackson has defended physicians, hospitals, and nurses in medical liability cases for 33 years. He has served as TAPA’s General Counsel since 2016 and will now become TAPA’s full-time executive director while still maintaining a part-time law practice. TAPA is the unified voice of Texas healthcare on medical liability matters. Its members include the Texas Medical Association, Texas Hospital Association, medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, charity clinics, and other healthcare organizations. TAPA successfully lobbied for passage of the state’s 2003 landmark medical liability reforms. Since then, the organization’s overriding purpose has been to preserve those reforms and the resulting benefits for Texas healthcare providers and their patients. Because of the reforms, a record number of new physicians now practice in Texas, including pediatric and geriatric specialists and emergency room physicians. Click this link for chart showing growth in the number of Texas emergency medicine physician Jackson often testifies before the Texas Legislature as an expert witness concerning healthcare liability issues. His active trial practice focused on defending healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases, and he has also written numerous briefs in cases before the state’s appellate courts. He is a frequent speaker at lectures and seminars sponsored by various healthcare organizations and the Texas State Bar.  Jon Opelt
Retiring Executive Director During Opelt’s tenure, TAPA repelled two federal challenges to the state’s non-economic damage cap. It passed 14 pieces of legislation, including the Pandemic Liability Protection Act and a law preserving cross-border care with New Mexico. Through Opelt’s leadership, TAPA drafted and played a pivotal role in passing the first successful medical liability legislation in the history of the U.S. Congress. The legislation prohibits misusing the Affordable Care Act to create new theories to sue healthcare providers. “Jon Opelt is a consummate professional and has been the heart of our organization for nearly twenty years. His strategic thinking, and dedication to the cause are impressive and will be missed,” said Dr. Hancock. Opelt is transitioning into retirement and takes on a reduced role with TAPA as a special assistant to Jackson. |
