| The Texas Hospital Association (THA) is urging | | | | the employees of small employers located in the |
| lawmakers in Dallas, Houston and throughout the | | | | participating counties. |
| rest of the state to take the right steps to make | | | | • H.B. 1182 by Rep. John Davis -- Requires |
| health insurance more affordable and accessible to | | | | that state agencies and school districts consider |
| individuals in Texas. The state ranks first in the | | | | whether a vendor provides health care benefits |
| country in the percentage of uninsured residents | | | | or equivalent health savings benefits to its |
| (24.6%). | | | | employees when awarding a contract for goods |
| “Cover the Uninsured Week,” which | | | | or services. |
| is observed nationally to highlight the importance | | | | • S.B. 1023 by Sen. Royce West -- Limits |
| of access to affordable health care benefits, has | | | | the use of money in the Texas Enterprise Fund |
| garnered particular attention in Texas where Gov. | | | | to recipients that provide health benefit plans. |
| Rick Perry has localized the awareness effort by | | | | • H.B. 3321 by Rep. Vicki Truitt -- Requires |
| proclaiming April 23-29, 2007 as Cover the | | | | students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and |
| Uninsured Week in the Lone Star State. | | | | to submit proof of health insurance before |
| "Everyone pays the price when individuals, families | | | | enrollment at a public institution of higher |
| and small businesses cannot afford health | | | | education. |
| insurance," the Governor stated. "The increasing | | | | • H.B. 3361 by Rep. Garnet Coleman (S.B. |
| costs of uncompensated care place a strain on | | | | 1681 by Sen. Kip Averitt) -- Requires that health |
| Texas hospitals, other health care providers and | | | | care benefit plans allow unmarried children of any |
| on the quality of care every patient receives. | | | | age to be covered under a parent's or |
| Texas recognizes the urgency to take meaningful | | | | grandparent's health insurance policy or plan if the |
| steps to make health insurance more affordable | | | | cost of the premium is paid. |
| and accessible." | | | | When uninsured Texans are sick, they currently |
| Nearly one quarter of Texas residents -- | | | | often turn to hospital emergency rooms because |
| approximately 5.5 million men, women and children | | | | they have no primary care physician. Stultz noted |
| -- is uninsured. In addition, the uninsured rate in | | | | that nearly 20 percent of people who lack health |
| every major Texas city is higher than the national | | | | insurance report turning to the ER for what is |
| average, and Texas' share of uninsured children, | | | | often routine care, compared to only three |
| more than 25 percent, also is higher than the | | | | percent of those with insurance coverage, |
| national average. In 2005, eight in 10 non-elderly | | | | according to the National Coalition on Health Care. |
| uninsured Texans came from working families -- | | | | "Using hospital emergency rooms for non-critical |
| nearly 70 percent from families with one or more | | | | care takes precious time and scarce resources |
| full-time workers. | | | | that doctors, nurses and other health care |
| "Texas hospitals are working with our elected | | | | professionals could put to work for those patients |
| officials in the battle to provide health care | | | | who truly need life-saving care or intervention for |
| coverage to more Texans through the private | | | | serious medical conditions." Adding that Texas |
| sector as well as state-funded programs such as | | | | hospitals spent more than $10.1 billion in 2005 to |
| Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance | | | | care for patients who have no health insurance, |
| Program," according to THA President/CEO Dan | | | | Stultz said, "The costs of uncompensated care |
| Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE. Stultz said, "We know | | | | strains our physicians' and hospitals' ability to |
| that access to affordable health insurance affects | | | | provide quality care to all patients -- regardless of |
| all Texans -- because we all pay the price when | | | | their insurance status. It also places undue burdens |
| Texans don't get the care they need." | | | | on local taxpayers, workers and health care |
| In addition to working to reverse cuts in Medicaid | | | | consumers." |
| and CHIP funding, and restoring provider | | | | Health care experts say that increasing the |
| reimbursement rates, the THA supports a | | | | number of people with health insurance will further |
| number of private-sector measures to increase | | | | enhance the quality of care and help reduce the |
| the number of Texans with health insurance | | | | losses that result from doctors and hospitals |
| coverage. These measures include: | | | | treating patients with no health insurance. |
| • H.B. 882 by Rep. Elliott Naishtat/Rep. John | | | | Uncompensated care limits the financial resources |
| Davis (S.B. 922 by Sen. Kirk Watson) -- These | | | | available to invest in new technology, electronic |
| measures authorize counties to establish or | | | | communication, education and other |
| participate in regional health care programs, which | | | | enhancements that would improve patient care |
| would provide health care services or benefits to | | | | and outcomes for all patients. |