MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PROMPT PAYMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Friday, October 18, 2002
9:30 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Prompt
Payment of Health Care Providers was held on Friday, October 18,
2002, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson Senator John Carona
Senator Troy Fraser Senator Mario Gallegos,
Jr.
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m. The
following business was transacted.
The Chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of
this hearing was to solicit and consider public testimony on the
committee's charge relating to medical malpractice liability
insurance: to evaluate the effectiveness of existing state law
and agency rules relating to the current medical professional
liability system; and to assess the causes of rising malpractice
insurance rates in Texas, including the impact of medical
malpractice lawsuits and their impact on access to health care.
The Chair invited Cheye Calvo, Committee Director of the
Financial Services Standing Committee, National Conference of
State Legislatures, to provide testimony before the committee
regarding national trends and other states' legislative
responses relating to the medical liability insurance crisis.
Cheye Calvo provided a Power Point presentation and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for this witness, the Chair
called David Durden, Associate Commissioner for Governmental
Relations, Texas Department of Insurance, to respond to
questions by Senator Fraser.
There being no further questions for this witness, the Chair
called David Duffner, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon - Travis
Orthopedic and Sports Specialists, P.A.; Bill Hammond, President
and CEO - Texas Association of Business; Tommy Jacks, Attorney -
Mithoff & Jacks; Reggie James, Director - Consumers Union
Southwest Regional Office; and Michael Regier, Vice President
and General Counsel - Seton Network, to discuss matters relating
to rising malpractice insurance rates in Texas and their impact
on patient access to health care.
The invited witnesses provided oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for these witnesses, the Chair
invited David Kramer, Attorney - Texas Legislative Council, to
testify regarding the legislative history of tort reform in
Texas relating to the medical malpractice issue.
The witness provided oral testimony and responded to questions
by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for this witness, the Chair
opened the hearing to public testimony.
Witnesses testifying are shown on the attached list.
There being no further business, at 1:58 p.m., Senator Nelson
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk