The House Committee on Public Health
76th Legislature
January 31, 2000
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, E1.030
Pursuant to a notice posted on January 18, 2000, the House
Committee on Public Health met in a public hearing and was
called to order by the chair, Representative Gray, at 9:10 a.m.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Gray; Glaze; Maxey; McClendon; Uresti
(5).
Absent: Representatives Coleman; Capelo; Delisi; Hilderbran
(4).
A quorum was present.
The chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of
the meting was to consider the Committee's organizational
procedures and schedule for the interim; receive status reports
regarding the development and implementation of several bills
passed during the 76th Legislative Session; and to review and
discuss the interim charges that were recently issued to the
Public Health Committee by Speaker James E. "Pete" Laney.
The chair announced that the coommittee would first consider the
implementation status of SB 445 by Moncrief/Gray, relating to a
child health plan for certain low-income children. The chair
called upon witnesses who were invited to testify about the
implementation status of the bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services
Commission
The following person provided oral and written testimony:
Jason Cooke, Director, Children's Health Insurance Program,
Health and Human Services Commission
(Representative Coleman now present.)
The chair appointed a subcommittee to consider streamlining
eligibility standards in the Children's Health Insurance program
and the Medicaid program.
The chair named the following members to the subcommittee on SB
445: Representative Coleman, Chair; Representatives Maxey and
McClendon.
The chair announced that the committee would consider the
implementation status of HB 2641 by Gray/Brown, relating to the
continuation and functions of the Health and Human Services
Commission. The chair called upon the witness who was invited
to testify about the implementation status of the bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services
Commission
The chair announced that the committee would consider the
implementation status of HB 2896 by Coleman, Moncrief, relating
to the administration and operation of the state Medicaid
program. The chair called upon the witness who was invited to
testify about the implementation status of the bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services
Commission
The chair announced that the committee would consider the
implementation status of HB 2085 by McCall/Brown, relating to
the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Health and
Texas Department of Health, including the operation of certain
boards and councils administratively attached to the department;
providing penalties. The chair called upon the witness who was
invited to testify about the implementation status of the bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Reyn Archer, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of Health
(Representative Hilderbran now present.)
The chair announced that the committee would consider the
implementation status of SB 358 by Madla/Gray, relating to the
continuation and functions of the Texas Department of Mental
Health and Mental Retardation and to certain facilities. The
chair called upon the witness who was invited to testify about
the implementation status of the bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation
The chair announced that the committee would consider the
implementation status of HB 1398 by Coleman/Moncrief, relating
to indigent health care. The chair called upon witnesses who
were invited to testify about the implementation status of the
bill.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Rose Marie Linan, Bureau of Policy and Operations, Texas
Department of Health
Sue Glover, State and Federal Legislative Analyst, Texas
Association of Counties
The chair announced that the committee would consider HB 1051 by
Brimer/Madla, relating to the regulation of the practice of
therapeutic optometry. The chair called upon the witness who
was invited to testify about the implementation status of the
bill.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Indra K. Reddy, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutics, Texas Tech
University, School of Pharmacy
The chair announced that the committee would consider SB 93 by
Moncrief/McCall, relating to the regulation of assisted living
facilities and requirements concerning certain other facilities
serving persons who are elderly or disabled. The chair called
upon witnesses who were invited to testify about the
implementation status of the bill.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Jim Lehrman, Deputy Commissioner, Long Term Care
Regulatory, Texas Department of Human Services
Jackie Johnson, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Programs,
Texas Department of Human Services
The chair announced that the committee would consider SB 94 by
Moncrief/McCall, relating to home health services; providing
administrative penalties. The chair called upon witnesses who
were invited to testify about the implementation status of the
bill.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Jim Lehrman, Deputy Commissioner, Long Term Care
Regulatory, Texas Department of Human Services
Jackie Johnson, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Programs,
Texas Department of Human Services
The chair announced that the committee would consider SB 95 by
Moncrief/McCall, relating to studies and strategic plans
concerning the delivery of long-term care, community services,
and certain health services. The chair called upon witnesses
who were invited to testify about the implementation status of
the bill.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Jim Lehrman, Deputy Commissioner, Long Term Care
Regulatory, Texas Department of Human Services
Jackie Johnson, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Programs,
Texas Department of Human Services
Cathy Rossberg, Associate Commissioner, Health and Human
Services Commission
The chair annoucned that the committee would consider SB 96 by
Moncrief/McCall, relating to the transfer of licensing,
certification, and regulation of home health and community
support services agencies. The chair called upon witnesses who
were invited to testify about the implementation status of the
bill.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Jim Lehrman, Deputy Commissioner for Long Term Care
Regulatory, Texas Department of Human Services
Jackie Johnson, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Programs,
Texas Department of Human Services
The chair announced that the committee would take up discussion
on charge #1, which directed the committee to review the role of
the pharmaceutical industry in the delivery of health care in
Texas; identify pharmaceutical cost-drivers and opportunities
to reduce costs, assess the role of pharmacy benefit managers
and pharmacies, and address patient-specific issues, as well as
others identified by the committee. The chair called upon the
witness who was invited to testify about this charge.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Mary Anderlik, University of Houston Health Law and Policy
Institute
The chair announced that the committee would take up discussion
on charge #2, which directed the committee to review issues
related to the increased use of new technologies in the delivery
of health care, and to identify opportunities and risks
associated with the sale of medical devices and drugs over the
Internet, the feasibility of expanding telemedicine to improve
care in underserved areas, and regulatory and privacy issues
presented by these new technologies. The chair called upon the
witness who was invited to testify about this charge.
The following person provided oral testimony:
Bruce Levy, M.D., Executive Director, Texas State Board of
Medical Examiners
The chair announced that the committee would take up discussion
on charge #3, which directed the committee to evaluate the role
and potential of disease management in public health programs
that serve chronically ill populations. The chair called upon
witnesses who were invited to testify about this charge.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services
Commission
Reyn Archer, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of Health
The chair announced that the committee would take up discussion
on charge #4, which directed the committee to study issues
arising from hospital systems sales, conversions, partnerships
and mergers, including the impact on health care in medically
underserved and rural communities and on the level of charity
care provided. The chair called upon witnesses who were invited
to testify about this charge.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Reyn Archer, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of Health
Anne Henry, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of State Health
Data and Policy Analysis, Texas Department of Health
Sam Tessen, Executive Director, Texas Center for Rural
Health Initiatives
The chair announced that the committee would take up discussion
on charge #5, which directed the committee to examine the
requirements imposed on emergency medical services providers in
rural areas, and to determine whether individual requirements
encourage or hinder the provision of services. The chair called
upon witnesses who were invited to testify about this charge.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Kathryn C. Perkins, RN, MBA, Acting Chief, Bureau of
Emergency Management, Texas Department of Health
Sam Tessen, Executive Director, Texas Center for Rural
Health Initiatives
At 2:10 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.
________________________
Rep. Patricia Gray, Chair
________________________
Pam Crowley, Chief Clerk