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Welcome to Texas Health Institute
We are pleased to provide you the June issue of the Texas Health Institute Newsletter.
Texas Health Institute (THI) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, independent organization that serves as an honest broker of information to promote dialogue among all healthcare stakeholders and to enable policymakers to more thoroughly explore health policy issues to make informed decisions.
THI is fortunate to have access to years of experience and knowledge in healthcare and public health via our board of trustee members and project volunteers. This month we are privileged to introduce a new section in our newsletter - a guest article submitted by THI's board member Kim D. Slocum. Kim, who was recruited by former THI chair Ivo Nelson, joined the THI board in 2002. He co-chairs THI's Shared Vision Project information technology workgroup - an activity focused on developing a comprehensive, nonpartisan plan for a sustainable US healthcare system. We hope that Kim's generosity in providing insight and national perspective on healthcare coverage will encourage other readers to contribute to future issues.
In this issue, we reflect on policy options to address healthcare access and public health issues that became law in Texas' 80th Legislative session. There is still a great deal of work to be done, but a strong foundation has been set to build upon before the 81st Legislative Session. THI is committed to providing nonpartisan evidence-based solutions to make a difference in improving the health of Texans.
We are extremely honored to work with volunteers across Texas and the United States to fulfill our mission to improve the health of Texans and their communities. We encourage our readers to learn more about us by exploring our website.
www.texashealthinstitute.org
Sincerely,
Camille D. Miller
President & CEO |
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The Changing Face of Health Insurance
-by guest contributing writer Kim D. Slocum
It is difficult today to pick up a newspaper, watch a newscast on television, or even read the news online without hearing about those millions of Americans who do not have health insurance. The degree of urgency you feel about addressing this issue is probably governed in large part by your response to the following question: is health care a market good or a societal right? If you believe health care is a market good, you probably think it should be available to anyone with the economic means to pay for it, but not necessarily to those who can't afford it. If you believe healthcare is a societal right, you probably think that it should be available to everyone on an equal basis, regardless of ability to pay. Unfortunately, like so many important issues in the US today, the question of health insurance coverage has been subjected to the polarizing lens of politics. This article will discuss the subject non-judgmentally, define the key questions, and describe some of the efforts underway to address the challenge. It will conclude by discussing the health insurance situation in Texas and activities underway to solve the problem.
Link to Kim Slocum's article
About the author - Kim D. Slocum is an emeritus member of the Texas Health Institute board of trustees. He is President of KDS Consulting, LLC, an organization devoted to helping healthcare organizations understand the broader environment in which they operate and assisting them in finding strategic, sustainable solutions to the business challenges they face.
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A Vision for Change - A Look Back at the 80th Texas Legislative Session
Throughout the 80th Texas Legislative Session, the Texas Health Institute (THI) has tracked legislation that incorporates the 12 proposed solutions contained in its commissioned report, A Vision for Change: Policy Solutions for Increasing Health Coverage in Texas. The report outlines policy solutions that will reduce the number of Texans without health coverage by almost half in three to five years. Through this initiative, THI is moving quickly to educate the public as well as policymakers.
Four pieces of legislation from the 80th Legislature containing four proposals from THI's report became law:
- House Bill (HB) 109 authored by Representative Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) and sponsored by Senators Kip Averitt (R-Waco) and Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) effectively implements Solution Nine to fully restore the Children's Health Insurance Program.
- Senate Bill (SB) 10 authored by Senator Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) and sponsored by Representative Dianne Delisi (R-Temple) implements Solution One to provide technical assistance and seed funding for 3-share/multi-share programs and Solution Two to expand the use of Medicaid's Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP).
- Senate Bill (SB) 1254 authored by Senator Kip Averitt (R-Waco) and sponsored by Representative Larry Taylor (R-League City), and House Bill (HB) 2548 authored by Representative Todd Smith (R-Tarrant) and sponsored by Senator Kip Averitt (R-Waco) which both implement Solution Five to expand eligibility for Texas' Health Insurance Risk Pool (THIRP).
With the passage of these laws, over 300,000 more Texans will have access to critical healthcare coverage - a great beginning on addressing the state's uninsured problem - but with almost 5.3 million Texans remaining uninsured we must not lose the momentum created this past legislative session.
Legislation containing nine more of THI's proposed solutions that would have given an additional 2.4 million Texans access to healthcare coverage was not enacted. Often worthy legislation must be introduced and considered by the legislature several times before becoming law. We intend to use the intervening time between the close of the 80th Legislative Session and the beginning of the next one in 2009 to continue to build the case that increased healthcare coverage is good for Texas and Texans.
Our thanks go out to the hundreds of volunteers who are working on and supporting this project. For more information on A Vision for Change, contact Delia Presley at 512.279.3903 or email dpresley@texashealthinstitute.org. |
THI to Host Benefit Honoring Major General Robert Bernstein
On Tuesday evening, July 24th, 2007, THI will host a very special evening to honor Major General Robert Bernstein, MD. A true legend in Texas public health, Dr. Bernstein serves as a member of the THI executive committee and board of trustees. The event will serve as a fundraiser benefiting the Texas Health Institute. The event will provide an opportunity for peers, friends and family from Dr. Bernstein's life to acknowledge him and his contributions in public health to Texas and our country. THI will also be using this fundraising benefit as an opportunity to honor Dr. Bernstein with an endowment in his name - so not only will he have a special evening of honor, but his name and legacy in public health service to Texas will live on through an endowment.
For more information on the event please contact Lenora Doerfler at 512.279.3915 or email ldoerfler@texashealthinstitute.org.
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THI Presents on Obesity Policy Initiatives at NNPHI Annual Meeting
At the sixth annual conference of The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), "Partnering for Public Health Systems Improvement", held in New Orleans May 21st through May 23rd THI staff, Klaus Madsen, participated in a panel discussion and gave a presentation entitled the Partnership for a Healthy Texas: Conquering Obesity. His presentation was part of the "NNPHI Best Practices Showcase" where THI's obesity policy initiatives were featured. Moderated by Ellen Rautenberg, MSHS, President & CEO, The Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., other panel participants included Amy Rossi, MSSW, LCSW, Associate Director, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and Mary Ann Philips, MPH, Senior Research Associate, Georgia Health Policy Center.
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Miller Appointed Chair of NNPHI Board of Directors
Camille D. Miller,
THI President and CEO, was elected chair of the NNPHI board of directors at their annual meeting held in New Orleans May 21st through May 23rd. As chair, Camille will be working with the organization as they launch their strategic plan which will focus on three cornerstones:
- Foster high performing public health institutes within states and selected regions.
- Maintain a national network that effectively supports the establishment and growth of state and regional public health institutes.
- Improve the public's health through selected strategic initiatives that capitalize on the unique characteristics and potential of public health institutes and our national network.
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) was formed in 2001 to recognize and enhance the work being done in public health by independent, nonprofit collaborative entities. Many states and local jurisdictions have formed these multi-sector organizations with their unique partnerships with government, the business community, academia and other nonprofits. NNPHI members share certain characteristics of fostering innovation, creating efficient administrative structures and reaching out to partners outside of the usual governmental arena. The leaders of the individual institutes recognize they share common goals and objectives, which can be enhanced through a formal collaborative network, working in partnership with national public health partners. |
Institute to Co-Sponsor Southern Obesity Summit
The Texas Health Institute will be a co-sponsor of the upcoming Southern Regional Health Consortium's (SHRC) Southern Obesity Summit scheduled for August 26th through August 28th, 2007 at The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas. The invitational summit will focus on obesity prevention policy and practice in the South. State delegations of leaders from 13 Southern states including Texas will participate in an exchange of ideas, lessons learned and inspirations of practice that will encourage obesity prevention efforts.
Scheduled speakers for the event include:
- Nisha Botchwey, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, University of Virginia
- Larry Cohen, MSW, Executive Director, The Prevention Institute
- Janet L. Collins, PhD, Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Sharon Dickerson, Director, Arkansas Employee Benefits
- Ginny Ehrlich, MPH, MS, Director, School Initiatives, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
- Katherine Kaufer-Christoffel, MD, MPH, Founder, Medical and Research Director, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
- Steven Kelder, PhD, MPH, Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living
- Camille D. Miller, President/CEO, Texas Health Institute
- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, President/CEO, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director, Trust for America's Health
- Marcia Ory, PhD, Director, National Program Office, Active for Life, Texas A&M Health Science Center
- Eduardo Sanchez, Director, Institute for Health Policy, The University of Texas School of Public Health
- Steve Sheldon, MBA, PA-C, SHRC Chair and Assistant Vice President for Community Outreach Program Director, East Texas AHEC Office of Community Health Services University of Texas Medical Branch
- Joe Thompson, Arkansas Surgeon General and Executive Director, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
- Floyd G. Villines, JD, Pulaski County Arkansas Judge
Other sponsors of the Summit are:
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Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
- Association for Community Health Improvement
- Directors of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- The Michael and Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
- National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health
- Prevention Institute
For information on the Summit please contact Liza Creel at 512.279.3906 or email lcreel@texashealthinstitute.org. |
THI Named MSGRCC Grant Administrator
On June 20, 2007, THI was notified that it received approval to become the grant administrator for the Mountain State Genetics Regional Collaborative Center (MSGRCC). The purpose of the MSGRCC is to collaborate for the purpose of ensuring that individuals with heritable disorders and their families have access to quality care and appropriate genetic expertise and information in the context of a medical home.
The MSGRCC is one of seven regional collaborative centers covering the nation. It is federally funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Genetic Services Branch. The Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Four projects will be funded under this program:
- Socio-Cultural and Diversity Project
- Native American Initiative - Project Lead, Murray Brilliant, PhD, University of Arizona
- African American and Hispanic Initiative - Project Lead, Kathryn Hassell, MD, University of Colorado Health Science Center
Newborn Screening Outcomes and Management Project - Project Lead, Janet Thomas, MD, Denver Children's Hospital
Laboratory Quality Assurance Project - Project Lead, Marzia Pasquali, ARUP Laboratories
MSGRCC leadership include:
- Principal Investigator - John Johnson, MD, Shodair Hospital, Helena, Montana
- Director - Camille D. Miller, MSW, Texas Health Institute
- Associate Director - Joyce Hooker, THI Independent Contractor
On July 12th through July 14th, 2007, the MSGRCC, along with the Mountain States Genetics Foundation, will host the 2007 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. Meeting participants will include stakeholders in all areas of genetic services. For more information on the 2007 Annual Meeting go to:
http://www.mostgene.org/annualmeeting07.htm |
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Partnership for a Healthy Texas' Legislative Priorities in Review
The Partnership for a Healthy Texas: Conquering Obesity (Partnership) began the 80th
Legislative Session with six policy priorities regarding obesity prevention and awareness. With more than 20 organizations joining forces to impact public policy at the Texas Legislature, five of the Partnership's six priorities became law by the end of the session.
A summary of obesity-related legislation follows:
- Senate Bill 530 authored by Senator Jane Nelson and sponsored by Representative Rob Eissler supports the Partnership's Priority Two to strengthen the implementation and improve accountability for current obesity-related legislation.
- $20 million was earmarked to support in-school physical education and fitness for grades six through eight; $800,000 will be made available to develop and implement wellness and physical fitness programs in Texas communities; and, $1.3 million will be used by the Texas Department of State Health Services to ensure that school cafeterias achieve compliance with federal regulations issued as part of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This activity supports the Partnership's Priority Three which asked for funding to implement coordinated school health programs as mandated by legislation along with comprehensive obesity prevention and control statewide.
- Senate Bill 555 authored by Senator Eddie Lucio and sponsored by Representative Harvey Hilderbran, House Bill 2313 sponsored by Representative Patrick Rose and sponsored by Senator Robert Nichols, and Senate Bill 556 authored by Senator Eddie Lucio and sponsored by Representative Jim McReynolds all support the Partnership's Priority Four for a comprehensive nutrition and physical activity public awareness campaign, including the Texas Fruit and Vegetable Month Proclamation.
- House Bill 1297 authored by Representative Dianne Delisi and sponsored by Senator Jane Nelson, House Bill 2252 authored by Representative Larry Taylor and sponsored by Senator Thomas Williams, and Senate Bill 10 authored by Senator Jane Nelson and sponsored by Representative Dianne Delisi all supports the Partnership's Priority Five promoting worksite wellness programs.
- House Bill 4062 authored by Representative Sid Miller and sponsored by Senator Jane Nelson supports Partnership Priority Six codifying the Texas Nutrition policy into Texas law.
The Texas Health Institute provides and facilitates a neutral, nonpartisan forum for the Partnership stakeholders to convene. Click here to learn more about the Partnership's Legislative priorities. |
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THI Hosts Healthy Communities Conference
On May 30-31, 2007, the Texas Health Institute held a two-day conference and training session focusing on promoting healthy communities by improving nutrition and physical activity.
On Day One of the conference, THI partnered with the Prevention Institute to provide a training session on the web-based Environmental Nutrition and Activity Strategies Tool (ENACT). ENACT is designed to help communities improve their nutrition and physical activity environments by offering specific achievable strategies. The purpose of The Robert Wood Johnson funded training was to allow stakeholders to work locally by making healthy eating and regular activity a realistic option for everyone, and allow it to "bubble up" to affect state and national policy.
Day Two of the workshop provided participants with Texas communities' case studies on decreasing and preventing obesity. Presentations focused on how evidence-based programs increase chances for success, the importance of planning for successful implementation and how to incorporate sustainability from the beginning of any community-based obesity program. |
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Director of SAMHSA to Speak at Mental Health Transformation Symposium
In its continued work under the Texas Mental Health Transformation Initiative under the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant (MHTSIG), the Texas Health Institute has organized and will provide support for A Meeting of the Minds, A Texas Mental Health Transformation Symposium. This dynamic five-day event will be held Wednesday, August 15th through Sunday, August 19th, 2007.
The 2007 Symposium will feature national keynote speakers on mental health transformation. Kathryn Power, MEd, Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) will speak to the role of the consumer and community collaboratives in Texas mental health transformation. Ron Manderscheid, PhD, Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Programs for Constella Group and former Chief of Survey Analysis for the Center for Mental Health Services, will share his perspective on national transformation efforts and the 2005 Institute of Medicine (IOM) mental health report. Both Power and Manderscheid are recognized as architects of change, revolutionizing the federal mental health agenda.
The symposium's theme, A Meeting of the Minds, underscores the important role collaboration plays in mental health transformation. The invitational symposium will bring together transformation partners representing community collaboratives working on local transformation initiatives, consumer and family leaders in the area of consumer-directed services, state and national mental health transformation experts, and state policy decision-makers.
The first two days of the Symposium (August 15 and 16) will focus on MHTSIG-funded community collaboratives' plans for transforming mental health systems and services at the community level. Presentations will include question and answer periods and feedback from a national advisory panel. August 17 through 19 will focus on consumer and family member topics: peer-to-peer learning, peer support certification, and the consumer role in Texas mental health transformation at the state and local levels.
For additional information, please contact Amanda Conway at 512.279.3907 or aconway@texashealthinstitute.org. |
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Supporting THI Projects
Why should you care about the uninsured in Texas?
Over the next three years, THI will work to reduce the number of uninsured Texans by almost half or by 2.75 million. Our research indicates that this 50% reduction in uninsured has the potential to pump $9.6 billion into the state economy, create 90,000 new permanent jobs, and generate about $160 million in new state tax revenue.
These are pretty exciting projections, and what's even more exciting is that you can have a direct impact in helping us make these projections a reality by becoming a Friend of the Institute. With your tax-deductible contribution of $100 or more to the Institute you will support our work in developing workable solutions to improve access to care for all Texans.
Please join us in ensuring that policy decision-makers have a vision for the future of healthcare access through workable, evidence-based options. We welcome your ideas, participation and donations to support our work. Through your generous gift, you confirm the importance of THI and our commitment to improve the health of Texans and their communities.
For more information on supporting THI please contact Lenora Doerfler at 512.279.3915 or email ldoerfler@texashealthinstitute.org. |
| About the Texas Health Institute
Our mission is to provide leadership to improve the health of Texans and their communities through education, research, and health policy development.
Senior Editor: Camille D Miller
Editor: Delia Presley
The Texas Health Institute (THI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on the development of health policy solutions to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. From acting as an honest broker and hosting unbiased health policy forums that facilitate dialogue among policymakers and other healthcare stakeholders, to creating a vision of an improved future healthcare system, THI is a think tank - providing evidence-based policy options and solutions as well as innovative, "outside the box" collaborative options to improve the health of Texans and their communities.
The THI newsletter is a monthly publication of the Texas Health Institute written to update Institute board of trustee members and Friends of the Institute.
For e-mail address changes, add or delete requests, please e-mail your request to:
dpresley@texashealthinstitute.org
If you would prefer to receive this newsletter through the U.S. mail or fax, please e-mail your contact information to:
dpresley@texashealthinstitute.org
If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please contact us at:
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Camille Miller
President/CEO
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July 25 - Wed.
- November 9 - Fri.
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Meeting of the Minds:
MHT Symposium for Community Collaboratives and Consumers
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Tribute to Major General Robert Bernstein M.D.
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Southern Obesity Summit-Sponsored by Southern Regional Health Consortium
It is now easier than ever to
become a Friend.
THI can now accept credit
cards. For more information
on the
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