MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH SERVICES
Thursday, November 4, 1999
9:00 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, an organizational meeting and briefing of the Senate
Committee on Health Services was held on Thursday, November 4,
1999, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson None
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Drew Nixon
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following member arrived after the roll was called: Senator
Jon Lindsay
The chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of
the meeting was to consider the organization, rules, and
proposed schedule for the Senate Committee on Health Services
and to receive briefings regarding interim charges issued by Lt.
Governor Rick Perry.
The chair introduced the Committee staff, namely, John Oates,
committee director; David Reynolds, policy analyst; Camille
Welborn, policy analyst; and Cheri Huddleston, committee clerk.
The chair also introduced the staffs of the committee members,
Lt. Governor Perry, and Governor Bush.
The chair laid out the interim rules for the Senate Committee on
Health Services and called for revisions. There being none,
Senator Moncrief moved their approval; Senator Madla seconded
the motion. There being no objection, the rules were adopted by
unanimous consent.
The chair discussed the committee schedule; the Committee will
meet on Tuesday, January 11, 2000. The Committee staff will
coordinate with each office to provide the location and time for
the next hearing.
The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members on
the status of Medicaid managed care in Texas and discuss the
concept of disease management
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Commissioner Don Gilbert, representing the Texas Health &
Human Services Commission
Commissioner William "Reyn" Archer III, M.D. representing
the Texas Department of Health
Linda K. Wertz, representing the Texas Health & Human
Services Commission
The following person registered but did not provide oral or
written testimony:
Leah Rummel, representing the Texas Department of Health
The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members on
biotechnology issues currently facing Texas.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Tom Kowalski, representing the Texas Healthcare and
Bioscience Institute
William B. Neaves Ph.D., representing the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center
The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members on
the current status of medical privacy rules and regulations and
how effective they are protecting consumers.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Gay Dodson R.Ph., representing the Texas State Board of
Pharmacy
Rhonda Myron, representing the Texas Department of
Insurance
Commissioner William "Reyn" Archer III, M.D., representing
the Texas Department of Health
The following person registered but did not provide oral
testimony:
Kim A. Caldwell, representing the Texas State Board of
Pharmacy
The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members
and give the current assessment of Texas healthcare workforce's
preparedness to meet the healthcare needs of Texans.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Ben Raimer, M.D., representing the Statewide Health
Coordinating Council
The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members on
the Vaccines for Children program and to discuss the health and
financial benefits of granting physicians a wider choice of
vaccines.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Commissioner William "Reyn" Archer III, M.D., representing
the Texas Department of Health
Sharilyn Stanley, M.D., representing the Texas Department
of Health
The Chair called invited panelists to brief committee members on
the current status of the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Commissioner Don Gilbert, representing the Texas Health &
Human Services Commission
Jason Cooke, representing the Texas Health & Human Services
Commission
With no other business to come before the committee and upon a
motion by Senator Moncrief, the chair recessed the committee by
unanimous consent at 12:35 p.m., subject to the call of the
chair.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk