H.R. No. 2202



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Texas Institute for Health Policy Research is a 
nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization focused on improving the health 
of Texans through health policy education, community-based 
solutions, and information dissemination; and
	WHEREAS, Since 2000, the institute has hosted health policy 
forums for the benefit of legislators and other health care 
stakeholders on topics such as the uninsured, the health care 
workforce, mental health, long-term care, emergency care, the 
health safety net, and the state of health care in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The institute has worked with communities 
throughout the state since 1997 to facilitate, develop, and sustain 
community-based interventions in order to address pertinent health 
care issues, such as access to care and chronic disease prevention; 
the institute also hosts workshops and forums to bring together 
community organizations from throughout Texas to share best 
practices; and
	WHEREAS, In 2003, the institute implemented the Shared Vision 
for Health Care in Texas Project in order to establish a forum for 
dialogue among policy makers, community leaders, health care 
providers, payers, and consumers and to foster informed 
decision-making; to that end, the governor, the lieutenant 
governor, and the speaker of the house have each appointed a liaison 
to work with the institute on the Shared Vision Project; and
	WHEREAS, More than 600 volunteers have contributed their 
time, talent, and expertise to the project, and this collaborative 
statewide effort brings together stakeholders to provide 
leadership in developing innovative practices and ideas to improve 
the state's health care and health status; and
	WHEREAS, One of the fundamental features of the project is 
that individuals involved in health care issues from every sector 
are included in the diverse bipartisan panel of 29 members; another 
essential feature is the development of focused work groups of 
experts to provide consultation and facilitation in key health 
policy emphasis areas to all project participants; the topics 
addressed by these work groups include community and public health, 
health care delivery, workforce, financing of health care, 
information technology, and rural health; and
	WHEREAS, The work groups are collecting information on best 
practices and are designing, overseeing, and providing guidance in 
developing model demonstration projects to test ideas for improving 
health and health status in Texas; findings from these projects 
will be shared with health policy decision makers and stakeholders; 
and
	WHEREAS, In 2004, the Shared Vision Project panel defined 
five elements of a shared vision for health care; they are:  (1) 
regional solutions to address regional differences within the 
parameter of a statewide strategic plan; (2) a more rational system 
for access other than through the emergency room; (3) incentives 
for personal responsibility; (4) the sound use of resources in 
addressing the health needs of a community or an individual; and (5) 
the need to gather evidence-based information to develop a business 
case to support health care improvements and educate the public 
about the consequences of our current system; and
	WHEREAS, The Shared Vision Project is creating an opportunity 
for the strategic transformation of health care in our state, and 
the methodology that it is employing makes Texas unique in the 
United States; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate the leadership of the 29-member 
panel, the six work groups, and the institute; commend them in their 
endeavors to provide input, recommendations, innovations, ideas, 
and solutions to health care issues through the Shared Vision 
Project; and welcome all persons or groups concerned with the 
health of their families, friends, or coworkers to participate in 
the Shared Vision Project for the betterment of our citizens and 
improvement in the quality of life for all Texans; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That the participants of the Shared Vision Project 
be encouraged to provide written and oral public testimony 
regarding legislative health care policy and to contribute input to 
and receive collaboration from appropriate state boards, agencies, 
institutions, and councils, including the Governor's Health Care 
Policy Council, that are researching, establishing, or 
implementing health care policy in the State of Texas, and that a 
copy of any report developed by the institute be provided to the 
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of 
representatives, and appropriate committee chairs of both houses; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the Texas Institute for Health Policy Research as an 
expression of high regard from the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Laubenberg
                                                                          Hughes
                                                                          Paxton
                                                                 Davis of Harris

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 2202 was adopted by the House on May 
29, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House