Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas Hospital Association is honoring five of Texas 181 state legislators with the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute award in recognition of their individual contributions to health care public policy in the 82nd Texas Legislature.
Although health care suffered budget cuts along with every other sector dependent on state funding there were some bright spots for hospitals thanks to these five lawmakers" said THA President/CEO Dan Stultz M.D. FACP FACHE.
The following legislators will receive THAs award which was created in 1997 to honor state legislators and other public officials who demonstrate outstanding leadership on issues important to hospitals and health systems:
Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) was instrumental in passing legislation to allow rural hospitals the option to employ physicians. In addition in his role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters and in subsequent budget debates he worked to find alternate sources of revenue to help mitigate the deep cuts in Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals.
Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) also was key in passing physician employment legislation that will bring relief to medically underserved areas of the state. A long-time member of the Public Health Committee he helped maintain an open dialogue with Washington D.C. regarding the implementation of health care reform.
Rep. Craig Eiland (D-Galveston) brought his extensive knowledge of insurance issues to bear on legislation relating to preferred provider organizations and the bill authorizing continuation of the Texas Department of Insurance. He understands the complexity of provider reimbursement formulas and the challenges hospitals sometimes face in being paid according their contracts.
Rep. Diane Patrick (R-Arlington) worked to ensure that the Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Fund received adequate funding in the 2012-13 state budget. Some $30 million was appropriated to the fund which allows Texas nursing schools to increase the number of registered nurse graduates to help address the critical shortage of nurses.
Rep. John Zerwas (R-Simonton) once again steered the health and human services budget process in the Texas House. With his background as a physician and a pragmatic approach to the issues he looked for innovative ways to overhaul the health care payment system and create quality-based measures to incentivize providers. Although the measure ultimately failed to pass he supported the development of a state-run health insurance exchange.
Duncan Coleman Eiland and Zerwas have received THAs award for their work in previous legislative sessions; Patrick is a first-time honoree.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas Hospital Association is honoring five of Texas 181 state legislators with the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute award in recognition of their individual contributions to health care public policy in the 82nd Texas Legislature.
Although health care suffered budget cuts along with every other sector dependent on state funding there were some bright spots for hospitals thanks to these five lawmakers" said THA President/CEO Dan Stultz M.D. FACP FACHE.
The following legislators will receive THAs award which was created in 1997 to honor state legislators and other public officials who demonstrate outstanding leadership on issues important to hospitals and health systems:
Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) was instrumental in passing legislation to allow rural hospitals the option to employ physicians. In addition in his role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters and in subsequent budget debates he worked to find alternate sources of revenue to help mitigate the deep cuts in Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals.
Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) also was key in passing physician employment legislation that will bring relief to medically underserved areas of the state. A long-time member of the Public Health Committee he helped maintain an open dialogue with Washington D.C. regarding the implementation of health care reform.
Rep. Craig Eiland (D-Galveston) brought his extensive knowledge of insurance issues to bear on legislation relating to preferred provider organizations and the bill authorizing continuation of the Texas Department of Insurance. He understands the complexity of provider reimbursement formulas and the challenges hospitals sometimes face in being paid according their contracts.
Rep. Diane Patrick (R-Arlington) worked to ensure that the Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Fund received adequate funding in the 2012-13 state budget. Some $30 million was appropriated to the fund which allows Texas nursing schools to increase the number of registered nurse graduates to help address the critical shortage of nurses.
Rep. John Zerwas (R-Simonton) once again steered the health and human services budget process in the Texas House. With his background as a physician and a pragmatic approach to the issues he looked for innovative ways to overhaul the health care payment system and create quality-based measures to incentivize providers. Although the measure ultimately failed to pass he supported the development of a state-run health insurance exchange.
Duncan Coleman Eiland and Zerwas have received THAs award for their work in previous legislative sessions; Patrick is a first-time honoree.
