TMA Honors Texas Medicine’s Best Legislators For 2007
October 22, 2007 – 5:06 pm | posted in Public HealthThe Texas Medical Association (TMA) announces its prestigious 2007 Texas Medicine’s Best legislator award winners, honoring 10 state legislators for their dedication to improving the accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness of Texas’ health care system.
TMA will present the awards to the five Texas senators and five representatives at the Friends of Medicine awards dinner Friday, Oct. 19, in Austin. The award presentation takes place during the annual TMA Fall Conference.
America’s largest state medical society has presented the award to legislators following each legislative session since 1995, for their work to improve the health of all Texans.
“We are very proud to honor this year’s Texas Medicine’s Best legislators, as each was instrumental in helping to preserve and improve health care for all Texans,” said William W. Hinchey, MD, TMA president. “From helping children in dire need of health care, to improving Texas’ overall wellness, to helping patients more easily navigate the treacherous health care system, these leaders were true champions.”
Recipients of the 2007 Texas Medicine’s Best legislator awards are:
- Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) - Senator Carona led the effort to ensure physicians are appropriately reimbursed by health plans when they join an in-network group, and he blocked efforts to weaken portions of the 2003 medical liability reforms.
- Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) - As chair of the 29-member committee that oversees the state budget, Representative Chisum helped create much-needed increases in funding for health care programs, including $2.3 billion in general revenue funds for Medicaid services to address caseload increases and other health care initiatives; $1.8 billion to fund the settlement of the Frew vs. Hawkins Medicaid lawsuit and create more patient access to physicians; $89.5 million to change Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility standards; and $82 million in general revenue to increase the availability of mental health crisis services.
- Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) - Representative Cook provided strong leadership on an issue of critical importance to medicine: protecting the medical liability reforms enacted in 2003. He also supported other patient-friendly initiatives, including CHIP funding restoration and creating better transparency in health care, and applied a common-sense approach to such issues as stem cell research, end-of-life care, and creating better transparency in health care.
- Rep. Dianne White Delisi (R-Temple) - Representative Delisi carried more than two dozen successful health bills. She was behind the 80th legislative session’s omnibus Medicaid reform bill, hospital-acquired infection reporting legislation, a bill strengthening protections against Medicaid fraud, and a broad package of measures designed to enhance the use of information technology in health care. She also worked to expedite physician licensing and to regulate discount health care programs.
- Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) - Senator Hinojosa led the effort to provide more transparency and accountability in contracts between physicians and health plans, and he was directly involved in efforts to restore CHIP funding, improve childhood immunization rates, and address Texas’ childhood obesity epidemic.
- Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) - Senator Nelson repeatedly has stood as a champion for medicine and Texas patients. She worked to ensure cancer funding and CHIP reform this session, and her Medicaid reform package expands efforts to assist with premiums for the uninsured, encourages patients to see physicians rather than go to emergency rooms for appropriate care, and focuses heavily on preventive health, which will help minimize acute care costs and help Texans maintain good health. Her legislation also promotes wellness by increasing physical education in elementary school.
- Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) - Representative Turner helped ensure an estimated 127,000 children will have access to health care. He was the author and champion of House Bill 109, which removes CHIP’s administrative barriers.
- Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) - Throughout his career, Senator Uresti has demonstrated unwavering support for Texas’ patients, physicians, and medical care facilities. This session he was a key supporter of restoring adequate funding for both CHIP and children’s Medicaid. He also worked to increase the number of medical residents and residency programs.
- Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) - Senator Zaffirini’s legislative highlights include passing historic legislation authorizing $1.9 billion in capital funding for 48 Texas colleges and universities, the largest single investment in higher education to meet Texas’ growing needs. As a member of the 2007 Appropriations Conference Committee, she was also instrumental in writing the final $153 billion state budget, which included significant increases in health and human services funding.
- Rep. John Zerwas, MD (R-Richmond) - Representative Zerwas’ legislation requires health insurers to extend network benefits to physicians who join an in-network medical group while their credentialing application is being processed, lowering patient costs. He also cosponsored legislation requiring health insurance plans to be more transparent in dealing with patients.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 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.
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