MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                            Subcommittee on Trauma Care 
                              Friday, August 30, 2002 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
             Valley Regional Medical Center, 100A E Alton Gloor Blvd,  
                                Brownsville, Texas. 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was  
         held on Friday, August 30, 2002, in the Valley Regional Medical  
         Center, 100A E Alton Gloor Blvd, Brownsville, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Chris Harris, Chair             Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Jon Lindsay                     Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                 
                                                  
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Senator Chris Harris, the acting Chair, called the meeting to  
         order at 9:30 a.m.  The Chair made opening remarks and welcomed  
         all members, staff and invited guests to the hearing.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 
          
         The following invited witnesses answered questions and provided  
         oral testimony: 
          
              Dr. Robert Robles, Cardiologist, representing physicians in  
         the Rio Grande Valley. 
          
              Dr. Lorenzo Pelly, Critical Care Specialist, representing  
         Valley Doctors Clinic. 
          
              Jose Montemayor, Commissioner of Insurance, representing  
              the Texas Department of Insurance. 
          
              Charles Sexton, Hospital Executive, representing the Valley  
         Regional Medical Center. 
          
              Bill Adams, Hospital Administrator, representing Valley  
         Baptist Medical Center. 
              Louis Garcia, Hospital Administrator, representing McAllen  
         Medical Center. 
          
              Dominic Dominguez, Chief Executive Officer, representing  
              the Brownsville Medical Center. 
  
              Ruben Garza, representing the Knapp Medical Center. 
          
              Jose Camacho, Executive Director, representing the Texas  
              Association of Community Health Centers. 
          
              Dr. Carlos Cardenas, Physician, representing Texas Medical  
              Association/Border Health Caucus. 
          
              Dr. Bliss Clark, Orthopedic Surgeon, representing  
         physicians. 
          
              Dr.  Madhavan Pisharodi, Neurosurgeon, representing  
         physicians. 
          
              Bill Ashton, Director of EMS, representing Harlingen EMS. 
          
              Javier Quiroga, EMS Training Officer, representing  
         Brownsville Fire Department. 
          
         Public witnesses that registered with the clerk are shown on the  
         attached list.  There being no further business, at 2:20 p.m.  
         Senator Harris moved that the Committee stand recessed subject  
         to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         __________________________ 
         Senator Chris Harris, Chair 
          
         __________________________ 
         Amber Martin, Clerk