MINUTES
LONG TERM CARE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
1:00 p.m.
E2.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Long Term Care Legislative
Oversight Committee was held on Wednesday, February 20, 2002, in
the Capitol Extension, E2.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Duncan None
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Mike Moncrief
Representative Elliott Naishtat
Representative Craig Eiland
Representative Jim McReynolds
Pat Karrh
Phil Elmore
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Duncan recognized a group of visiting students and
introduced public member Pat Karrh.
Public member, Phil Elmore presented the research topics
recommended by the research working group. Senator Moncrief
moved their approval. There being no objection, the research
topics were adopted by unanimous consent.
The following persons provided invited, oral testimony:
Jennifer Salmon, Ph.D. of the Florida Policy Exchange
Center on Aging, University of
South Florida, provided an overview of the nursing home
legislation passed in the state of
Florida.
Jose Montemayor, Commissioner, Texas Department of
Insurance, reviewed the state of the insurance industry as
it relates to nursing home facilities. Additionally, he
reviewed the insurance provisions in Senate Bill 1839.
Joe Chilton and Will Davis of the Texas Medical Liability
Insurance Underwriting
Association (JUA) presented information regarding the new
JUA coverage for both for-
profit and not-for-profit nursing homes. Mr. Chilton and
Mr. Davis reviewed the new
rates set by the JUA Board for nursing home coverage.
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services
Commission, testified regarding
the Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes.
Specifically, Commissioner
Gilbert, addressed the provisions of House Bill 154
relating to the portion of the
reimbursement for insurance premiums.
Tom Pinkard, Gulf Insurance Company, Ray Thomas, Bunker
Hill, and Janet Kulhanek,
Colley and Associates, participated in a panel discussion
of insurers regarding the
challenges of providing liability insurance for nursing
home facilities.
David Bragg, AARP, Mary Stephens, Buckner Retirement
Services, and Cheryl Killian,
Chair, Texas Health Care Association, participated in a
panel discussion of the effects of
liability insurance on the administration duties of nursing
home facilities.
The chairman called persons who registered as public
witnesses to provide testimony regarding liability
insurance for nursing home facilities. See attached witness
list.
With no other business to come before the committee, the
chair recessed the committee by unanimous consent at 6:30
p.m., subject to the call of the chair.
________________________________
Senator Robert Duncan, Chair
________________________________
Jennifer Chambers, Clerk