TMA Adds Proven Health Care Lobbyist To Team, USA

August 12, 2007 – 11:51 am | posted in Public Health

Patricia Kolodzey, RN, a seasoned lobbyist in health care, has joined the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) lobby team.

Ms. Kolodzey brings more than 30 years of health care and insurance experience to the association. For the past 10 years, Ms. Kolodzey was a key lobbyist for the Texas Hospital Association (THA), where she advocated for Medicaid, insurance, and managed care reform on behalf of THA member hospitals and health systems. “Patricia is tireless in her pursuit of improving health care for Texas patients,” said Darren Whitehurst, TMA director of public affairs.

At TMA, Ms. Kolodzey will continue her charge to reform health insurance practices and improve access to high-quality care for Medicaid patients and the uninsured. “Texas doctors and their patients are facing increasing challenges on the health insurance front in obtaining appropriate coverage for needed health care services. We need proactive solutions to motivate some health plans to fulfill their obligations to patients and physicians. Patricia will be an integral part in both identifying and implementing legislative solutions to make sure health plans do the right thing,” added Whitehurst.

Ms. Kolodzey began her career as a registered nurse, and then in 1987 she became a prepayment specialist in the Surveillance and Utilization Review Unit for Texas Medicaid at National Heritage Insurance Company. She also has worked for Travelers HMO/PPO as a senior patient care coordinator, and for PCA Health Plans of Texas and FirstCare, implementing Medicaid and Medicare risk products and ensuring contract compliance.

A graduate of Kilgore Junior College and The University of Texas at Austin, she received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 1978. Following graduation, she practiced clinical nursing at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 42,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

http://www.texmed.org

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