Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously approved SB 7 by Senator Nelson to redesign the Medicaid long-term care system for individuals with physical intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as Texans 60 and over. The bill now moves to the full Senate for further consideration. We cannot continue to fund the same inefficient unsustainable Medicaid system and expect a different result especially given the significant increases in our populations of seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities who are living longer healthier lives than ever before said Senator Nelson. SB 7 ensures that those currently being served continue to be served but in a more efficient coordinated manner. It also lays the groundwork to extend services to those currently waiting for them.
Committee Approves Bill To Improve Behavioral Health Outcomes Transparency
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services also unanimously approved SB 126 to require the Department of State Health Services to create a public reporting system to allow the public to view and compare performance and outcome measures among community mental health and substance abuse providers. We invest a significant amount of taxpayer dollars in our community mental health and substance abuse programs and it is imperative that the public can see how these resources are used and what outcomes are resulting from our investment said Senator Nelson.
Senator Nelson Files Legislation To Protect Patient Safety
Senator Nelson filed two pieces of legislation on Thursday to increase patient safety in hospitals and psychiatric facilities as well as bills to protect property rights and aid victims of domestic violence. SB 944 and SB 945 address patient safety issues at hospitals by requiring background checks for non-licensed employees in mental health wards of hospitals and requiring all clinical staff clinical trainees medical students interns and resident physicians of a hospital to wear badges with photo identification and clearly stating their names their departments and their job or trainee titles. This legislation responds to numerous reports of incidents at hospitals and psychiatric facilities in Texas that put patients at risk or caused them harm said Senator Nelson. These bills make it clear that we expect our patients to be protected and that we expect those responsible for patient care to take the put safety first.
Texas Independence Day
Tomorrow is Texas Independence Day celebrating the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2nd 1836. With the document Texas officially separated from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas which existed for the next decade before being annexed into the United States. Texas remains the only state that was its own county before joining the union. Tomorrow we celebrate Texas Independence Day and remember our states unique history. I am proud to serve in the greatest state in the nation! said Senator Nelson.
Week In Photos
This week Senator Nelson honored nurses as well as the emergency medical services community for their service during their advocacy days at the Capitol. She also met with a group of firefighters from SD 12 as well as students from Liberty Elementary School in Flower Mound. To see pictures from these events and others please visit Senator Nelsons Facebook page.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously approved SB 7 by Senator Nelson to redesign the Medicaid long-term care system for individuals with physical intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as Texans 60 and over. The bill now moves to the full Senate for further consideration. We cannot continue to fund the same inefficient unsustainable Medicaid system and expect a different result especially given the significant increases in our populations of seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities who are living longer healthier lives than ever before said Senator Nelson. SB 7 ensures that those currently being served continue to be served but in a more efficient coordinated manner. It also lays the groundwork to extend services to those currently waiting for them.
Committee Approves Bill To Improve Behavioral Health Outcomes Transparency
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services also unanimously approved SB 126 to require the Department of State Health Services to create a public reporting system to allow the public to view and compare performance and outcome measures among community mental health and substance abuse providers. We invest a significant amount of taxpayer dollars in our community mental health and substance abuse programs and it is imperative that the public can see how these resources are used and what outcomes are resulting from our investment said Senator Nelson.
Senator Nelson Files Legislation To Protect Patient Safety
Senator Nelson filed two pieces of legislation on Thursday to increase patient safety in hospitals and psychiatric facilities as well as bills to protect property rights and aid victims of domestic violence. SB 944 and SB 945 address patient safety issues at hospitals by requiring background checks for non-licensed employees in mental health wards of hospitals and requiring all clinical staff clinical trainees medical students interns and resident physicians of a hospital to wear badges with photo identification and clearly stating their names their departments and their job or trainee titles. This legislation responds to numerous reports of incidents at hospitals and psychiatric facilities in Texas that put patients at risk or caused them harm said Senator Nelson. These bills make it clear that we expect our patients to be protected and that we expect those responsible for patient care to take the put safety first.
Texas Independence Day
Tomorrow is Texas Independence Day celebrating the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2nd 1836. With the document Texas officially separated from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas which existed for the next decade before being annexed into the United States. Texas remains the only state that was its own county before joining the union. Tomorrow we celebrate Texas Independence Day and remember our states unique history. I am proud to serve in the greatest state in the nation! said Senator Nelson.
Week In Photos
This week Senator Nelson honored nurses as well as the emergency medical services community for their service during their advocacy days at the Capitol. She also met with a group of firefighters from SD 12 as well as students from Liberty Elementary School in Flower Mound. To see pictures from these events and others please visit Senator Nelsons Facebook page.
