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AUSTIN (Jan. 13, 2010) – HOSPAC, the state political action committee of the Texas Hospital Association, has endorsed incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race.
“When the Governor’s record is taken in the balance, he has provided support for a number of important health policies,” said Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, president/chief executive officer of THA. “For example, he supported creation of the Driver Responsibility Program to provide a stable source of funding for uncompensated trauma care. He spearheaded the effort to approve Proposition 12 which was critical for the medical liability reform measures passed in 2003 that have made health care more accessible today. He provided support for efforts to increase funding for nursing education to reduce the state’s nursing shortage. Last session, he supported creation of the Healthy Texas program to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses, and he worked with the Legislature to balance the budget without cuts in Medicaid reimbursement to providers.”
Stultz continued, “We hope to work with Gov. Perry in 2011 to continue to reduce the state’s uninsured population through insurance reform as well as public programs, and to give physicians the option of being employed by hospitals, which is particularly important in rural communities.
In accepting the HOSPAC/THA endorsement, Gov. Perry noted, “The Texas Hospital Association is an instrumental component to upholding the strength and integrity of our state's health care industry and I am honored to have their support in my bid for re-election. Texas has taken considerable steps to increase accessibility and affordability of health care, most notably through lawsuit reform legislation that has brought thousands of doctors to practice in our state, especially in previously underserved and rural areas. I look forward to continue championing the issues that will improve health care for all Texans,” said Gov. Perry.
The HOSPAC Board of Directors met Jan. 12 in Austin to make endorsements in several statewide races, as well as most races for the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. Visit www.HOSPAC.org to view the complete list of endorsements. Prior to the start of early voting, HOSPAC will publish more detailed biographical information about endorsed candidates on a searchable Web site.
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About HOSPAC
HOSPAC, the state and federal political action committees of the Texas Hospital Association, is the political voice for those who care about Texas hospitals and the patients they serve. HOSPAC members make a difference by combining their voices and political contributions to advocate for sound health care public policy. Learn more about HOSPAC at www.HOSPAC.org.
About the Texas Hospital Association
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85 percent of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 355,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/texashospitals.
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