Spring is upon us and so is Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27th-May 3^rd. While the 80^th Texas Legislature took some action to reduce the number of uninsured in Texas, more than 5 million Texans still have no access to healthcare coverage.

During Cover the Uninsured Week, indeed in the weeks and months ahead, we encourage you to consider the plight of those who need healthcare but have limited resources without insurance coverage. Study the healthcare plans our leaders propose and do what is in your power to make covering the uninsured a priority for our State and our Nation.

As always, THI provides up-to-date and unbiased information regarding the Texas uninsured issue. Below, you will find an announcement regarding our latest brochure, Raising the Bar On Health Solutions. Please contact any THI staff member to receive this publication. The THI website also catalogs THI data, briefs and publications, so visit us on the web at www.texashealthinstitute.org.

Thank you for continuing to support THI in our efforts to improve the health of Texans.

Sincerely,

Camille's signature

Camille D. Miller

President/CEO

Texas Health Institute

THI Releases Raising the Bar On Health Solutions

Funded by Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the new brochure outlines four critical health topics facing Texans today and presents potential solutions to improve the health and healthcare of Texans statewide. A sample of the information:

Uninsured: One-fourth of Texans do not have health insurance.
Obesity: More than 4.6 million Texans are obese.
Mental Health: 20% of all Texas children need active mental health interventions.
Workforce: Three-fourths of Texas counties lack an adequate number of primary care physicians.

Texas Health Institute offers this brochure as a companion to Health Policy Forum discussions, available in communities across the state, where topics and solutions are discussed in detail by experts, panelists and through round-table discussions.

To host a Raising the Bar Health Policy Forum in your community, please contact Lenora Doerfler at ldoerfler@texashealthinstitute.org at THI for details.

Mark Your Calendar

Transforming Healthcare: A Regional Discussion

2008 NORTH TEXAS HEALTHCARE FORUM, April 29^th, Arlington TX

Join state and national leaders for this discussion on healthcare reform.

Topics: U.S. Chamber Foundation Presentation - National Perspective;

Texas Health Institute, Presentation by Camille D. Miller - State/Regional Perspective;

Breakout Sessions, Panel Discussion and Audience Participation will occur.

Sponsored by Texas Health Resources, North Texas Commission and The Health Industry Council of the Dallas - Ft. Worth Region and hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the Arlington Chamber website to register.

2008 MH Transformation Workgroup Meetings

Texas Mental Health Transformation (TWG)

Calendar Year 2008 Meetings

May 6, 2008
August 5, 2008
November 7, 2008

All TWG meetings are scheduled 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at:

Texas Department of State Health Services

Robert D. Moreton Building, in the Board Room (M-739)

1100 W. 49th St.
Austin, Texas 78756

For questions, contact Dolly Klinefelter at:

Dolly.Klinefelter@dshs.state.tx.us or

(512) 458-7376

The National Health Information Technology Summit:

A Washington-Texas Dialogue

Hosted by the University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston, this summit will convene regional healthcare stakeholders together to facilitate consensus and provide input to local, state and federal government representatives, including the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Robert Kolodner, MD.

When: April 15-16, 2008
Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

For more information, visit: http://www.nhit-shis.org/program.html

Getting To Know THI

Dr. Ben Raimer

Dr. Ben Raimer was named Galvestonian of the Year during the Galveston Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in February.

Raimer, a pediatrician who last month was appointed to lead the University of Texas Medical Branch's new office of health care policy and legislative affairs, Dr. Raimer also serves on the Texas Health Institute's Board of Trustees, as Chairman of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council of the Texas Department of State Health Services and instructs in the UTMB Departments of Pediatrics and Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Community Health.

Dr. Raimer was recognized for his civic leadership and service on the Galveston Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors. Raimer helped reorganize the chamber and reshape its direction on behalf of local businesses. "Dr. Ben Raimer is an amazing individual and the more you get to know him the more you realize how much he does for the Galveston community. His career has led him to care for kids and convicts, his community service includes everything from Boy Scouts to the Baptist church. He has a head for business, and a heart for children. His honesty, integrity, generosity, passion, and his ability to lead has had a significant impact on our Chamber and this entire community for many, many years", said Gina Spagnola, President of the Chamber. To learn more about Galveston and the Galveston Chamber, visit www.galvestonchamber.com

Dr. Ron Manderscheid

THI Mental Health Transformation project's National Advisory Committee Chair, Ronald Manderscheid, Ph.D. has been appointed to Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael O. Leavitt's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020.

The Committee was established to provide advice and assistance to the Secretary and HHS in developing health promotion and disease prevention objectives to improve the health of Americans by the year 2020. Manderscheid, who will represent interests in mental health and substance use, has more than 30 years of in-depth experience in these areas.

Manderscheid, Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Programs for SRA International's Global Health Sector currently leads an SRA program area that includes development, demonstrations and research projects in mental health and substance abuse. He is a recognized national and international thought leader in mental health and substance use, has numerous published works, and is a recognized keynote speaker at industry functions.

Mental Health

New Connections for Student Support (NCSS) To Distribute Survey

New Connections, a workgroup of school-based mental health service stakeholders met on March 4, 2008 to create a survey to assess and promote best mental health practices in urban and rural education settings. The survey is to develop stakeholder networks which can provide and disseminate information to build stronger and more supportive mental health systems for Texas students.

Attendees: Allyson Jervey, Linda Meigs, Jane Nethercut, Marge Tripp

THI Staff: Susan Griffin (lead), Amanda Conway

For more information please contact Susan Griffin at sgriffin@texashealthinstitute.org

National Advisory Council (NAC) on Mental Health Transformation Spring Meeting

The NAC met in Santa Fe, NM during the American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) 2008 Santa Fe Summit on March 16^th. Members present included: Nancy Speck, Ron Manderscheid, Dennis Mohatt, John Morris, Alan Tomkins. Representing THI were Klaus Madsen and Susan Griffin. Guests for the meeting included: Bill Hudock - SAMHSA, Stephany Bryan - TX, Maurice Dutton - TX, (both TWG Consumer Representatives) Betty Downs - NM, Deborah Fickling - NM, Suzanne Pearlman - NM, Linda Roebuck - NM, Pam Sanchez - NM.

Ron Manderscheid recapped the formation of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and led the group through six agenda items:

� Outputs from the Summit as Inputs to the Process

� Update on the Community Collaboratives and discussion on needed assistance

� Publishing Materials from the Community Process

� Potential Partnership between Texas and New Mexico regarding community collaborative work

� State Consumer Group Work

� Healthy People 2020 Goals

Guest participants from the New Mexico transformation initiatives shared information about their projects and lessons learned while Bill Hudock brought forward particular issues some states are encountering with procurement systems and startup difficulties. A focus on project sustainability, funding and information sharing ensued. Next Meeting: August 4, 2008. For additional information on the work of the NAC, please contact Susan Griffin at sgriffin@texashealthinstitute.org.

Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center (MSGRCC)

Project Chair Reports Increase of Sickle-cell Disease in Latinos

Kathy Hassell, Medical Director of the University of Colorado's Sickle Cell Treatment and Research Center recently reported to the Denver Post an increasing number of Latino people in Colorado have been diagnosed with the painful blood disorder called sickle-cell disease.

The trend in the disease - long associated with African-Americans - is worrying because many Latinos aren't as aware of the risks, said Hassell. Dr. Hassell also chairs the Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative's (MSGRCC) Socio-cultural Diversity Project on African American and Hispanic Populations.

Hassell has been tracking the percentage of babies born every year with a single sickle-cell gene - the disease occurs only in those who get a sickle-cell gene from both mother and father. The percentage of sickle-cell carriers who are Latino has jumped from 10 percent to 32 percent in the last 20 years - a time when the Latino population in Colorado has more than doubled, according to U.S. census figures. "This may be the tip of the iceberg," Hassell said. (To read more of the Denver Post's article on Hassell, click here) In 2007, THI became the grant administrator for the Mountain States 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.

Upcoming MSGRCC Meeting Dates in Austin, Texas:

April 5 - Newborn Screening Workgroup

June 20-21 - 2008 Kick-Off Meeting

Contact Joyce Hooker at jhooker@msgrcc.org or Liza Creel at lcreel@msgrcc.org for additional information regarding these events.

On The Road With THI

Leadership Austin Gets Raising the Bar Update

THI CEO Camille D. Miller and Vice President of Programs, Klaus Madsen recently made a presentation on Public Health to the Leadership Austin. The program brought to light a number of health and healthcare concerns for the group and resulted in an invitation to return with a presentation on the critical health issues facing Texans today. Miller presented that information on March 19^th to a Leadership Austin Essentials class on Healthcare and Social Equity. Other esteemed presenters; Charles Barnett, CEO Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin; Eduardo Sanchez, - Director, Institute for Health Policy, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health; a panel discussion including; Ellen Balthazar, ED of Any Baby Can; Ann Kitchen, ED Indigent Care Coalition and Tom Spencer, ED Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. A 'fireside chat on leadership' by King Davis of the Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy and Director at the UT School of Social Work rounded out the program.

Congratulations Leadership Austin for recognizing the importance of these issues.

Texas Public Health Association's 84th Annual Education Conference

Pathways to Health: Policy, Practices & Partners

Sam Shore, Texas Department of State Health Services, Director of Texas Mental Health Transformation Operations and Texas Health Institute CEO Camille D. Miller presented information on the successes and direction of the Mental Health Transformation workgroup at the San Antonio meeting. The March 6^th session highlighted the collaboration among community stakeholders and their ability to find common ground to address pressing issues.

THI Attends Mental Health Summit

THI staff, Camille D. Miller, Klaus Madsen and Susan Griffin attended the American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) 2008 Santa Fe Summit in March where they learned a great deal about national mental health and substance abuse initiatives. Leading mental health and healthcare experts from across the nation, including Dr. Ron Manderscheid, THI Mental Health Transformation project National Advisory Committee Chair, addressed the gathering of health care and health policy advocates. Maurice Dutton, Stephany Bryan, Mike Halligan, THI Mental Health Transformation workgroup leaders also attended the summit and returned with a number of insights. Camille Miller is an ACMHA board member and will chair the 2009 Summit Planning Committee.

For more information contact Camille Miller at cmiller@texashealthinstitute.org

FCS Leadership Retreat

Camille D. Miller, THI CEO, facilitated a Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service retreat session, Connecting State Issues with Educational Responses on March 18^th with panelists, Ida Garcia, Legislative Director, Acting General Counsel, Office of Senator Van de Putte, R.Ph.; Ann Dunkelberg, Associate Director, Health Care; Don Baylor, Senior Policy Analyst, Workforce; Celia Hagert, Senior Policy Analyst Center for Public Policy Priorities.

The goals of the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) retreat were increasing communication and vision, understanding of local and state stakeholders and determining which educational assets can be strategically maximized to improve outcomes for each county and for Texas. Participants also strategized on how to improve understanding of Texas AgriLIFE Extension's return on investment and value to the State of Texas and to develop a plan to improve FCS agent interpretation at the local level.

For more information contact Judy Warren at jl-warren@tamu.edu

Partnership for a Healthy Texas

The Program Advisory Committee met on March 20^th to discuss preliminary priorities identified by attendees at the last two program committee meetings. The agenda included an open discussion of this list, then prioritizing the top six choices by open vote. Among the priorities identified were: Breastfeeding, Snack Tax, Obesity Impact/ Health Insurance, Regional School Health Specialists, Coordinated School Health, Diabetes Prevention and more. To learn more about this project, contact Michelle Smith at michellesmith@mac.com.

CDC Demonstration Project / Community Stakeholder Meeting

Stakeholders in the Dallas County Jail Reentry / CDC Demonstration Project met March 26^th in Dallas to discuss new developments regarding the project and took action on consolidating workgroups from ten to four. Thirty-five participants from Parkland Health and Hospital, Parkland Jail Health, The Williams Institute, Dallas City and County officials, THI and a number of community leaders participated in discussions related to jail health and re-entry of ex-offenders into public healthcare systems. Among those offering comments; Sharon Phillips, Parkland Hospital, Ron Stretcher, Dallas County Director of Criminal Justice, Charles Dillon, Operation Oasis, Gwen Broadnax, Dallas Probation Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Crumpton, Dallas County, Don Spies, Director of Health Initiatives, Office of Maurine Dickey, Brian Harvey, Deputy Chief of Police, Dallas Police Department, Connie Wilson, Dallas ISD, Mona Birdwell - Assistant Chief Deputy, Dallas Co. Sheriff's Department, Sue Pickens, Parkland Hospital, Camille D. Miller, THI and others. To learn more about this project, contact Klaus Madsen at kmadsen@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

Editors: Mitchell Gibbs / Havovi Katki

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 THI board of trustee members and Friends of the Institute.

For e-mail address changes, add or delete requests, please e-mail your request to:

mail to:hkatki@texashealthinstitute.org

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter through the U.S. mail or fax, please e-mail your contact information to:

mail to:hkatki@texashealthinstitute.org

If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please contact us at:

delete@texashealthinstitute.org

* Funding for this was made possible (in part) by 5 U79 SM57485-02 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderator do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government.