Health Care Advocate: June 1, 2023

Table of Contents Session Wraps With Big Wins for Hospitals When the regular session of the Texas Legislature finally adjourned on Monday, THA and its member hospitals had plenty to be proud of after nearly five months – 140 days – of pushing for progress and standing against regression for hospitals and health care. Some of THA’s most pressing aims…

Health Care Advocate: May 25, 2023

Table of Contents Bill Making Hospital Worker Assault a Felony Signed Into Law On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a THA-supported measure into law that will go a long way toward making hospitals a safer place to work. The governor signed Senate Bill 840 by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), which enhances the penalty for assaulting a hospital worker to a…

Health Care Advocate: May 18, 2023

Table of Contents Gov. Abbott Signs THA Workplace Violence Measure THA scored its first ultimate victory of the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature today as Gov. Greg Abbott signed its signature initiative to address workplace violence, Senate Bill 240 by Sen. Donna Campbell, MD (R-New Braunfels) and House sponsor Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin). SB 240 requires hospitals to implement…

Health Care Advocate: May 11, 2023

Table of Contents Two Harmful Rate-Capping Bills Shut Down Two pieces of legislation strongly opposed by THA that required government rate-setting suffered fatal blows this week at the Texas Capitol. One of THA’s most vehemently opposed bills died Monday on the House floor, shutting down an attempt to cap hospital payment rates in the private market for treatment provided outside…

Alert: Tell House to OPPOSE Harmful Rate-Capping

Issue:The Texas Hospital Association urgently needs your help to stop House Bill 633 (Rep. James Frank), which is now set for consideration by the full Texas House of Representatives. HB 633 creates rate caps in the private market and de-incentivizes having health insurance. Contact: Jennifer Banda, J.D., senior vice president, advocacy & public policy, 512/465-1046, jbanda@tha.orgCameron Duncan, J.D, vice president,…

Health Care Advocate: May 4, 2023

Table of Contents Workplace Violence, Hospital Investigation Bills Head to the Governor THA’s flagship bill to combat workplace violence is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after the Senate gave the bill its final signoff on Tuesday. The Senate concurred with a House amendment to Senate Bill 240 by Sen. Donna Campbell, MD (R-New Braunfels) and House sponsor Rep. Donna…

Health Care Advocate: April 27, 2023

Table of Contents THA Hits D.C. to Talk Price Transparency, Site-Neutral Payments and More In conjunction with the American Hospital Association’s Annual Meeting, a team of Texas hospital leaders and THA’s federal advocacy team barnstormed Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., this week. Congress is ramping up discussions on health care reform and recently filed legislation related to hospital price transparency,…

Alert: Stop Government Rate-Setting in State Health Plans

Issue:A bill that would allow the government to set hospital payment rates for state health plans is in danger of soon coming before a vote by the full Texas House of Representatives. THA urgently needs your help to stop it. Contact: Jennifer Banda, J.D., senior vice president, advocacy & public policy, 512/465-1046, jbanda@tha.orgCameron Duncan, J.D, vice president, advocacy & public…

Health Care Advocate: April 20, 2023

Table of Contents Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Extension Passes First Reading in House Extended Medicaid coverage for new moms – a major priority for hospitals’ agenda during this session of the Texas Legislature – became closer to reality today as the House of Representatives passed House Bill 12 by Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas) on first reading. The bill would extend maternal…

Alert: Oppose Telemedicine Payment Ban in Access-Destroying Bill

Issue:The troubling bill banning hospital outpatient payments that THA has been warning you about for weeks now is taking aim at outlawing payments for telemedicine services – both on and off a hospital campus. THA once again needs your help to stop this ever-evolving legislation. Contact: Jennifer Banda, J.D., senior vice president, advocacy & public policy, 512/465-1046, jbanda@tha.orgCameron Duncan, J.D,…