Physicians, hospital administrators, and health plan executives gathered at the Texas Medical Association building last week in search of common ground to improve the state’s Medicaid system.
They focused on finding ways to reduce paperwork and red tape in the program, and examined initiatives to improve maternal health. A formal communique from the four host organizations is in the works, and Texas Medicine Today will publish it as soon as it is complete.
“The goal for today is to establish the underpinning of our collaborative efforts, to have a vigorous and constructive discussion, and to come up with solutions that we can all actually implement within our respective organizations,” TMA President Doug Curran, MD, told the assembly.
State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo), chair of the House Committee on Human Services, kicked the event off with a similar plea for the groups to find common ground.
The four groups that convened the Medicaid Managed Care Summit were TMA, the Texas Hospital Association, the Texas Association of Health Plans, and the Texas Association of Community Health Plans. In addition to Dr. Curran, physicians participating included:
- TMA President-elect David Fleeger, MD;
- Ryan Van Ramshorst, MD, chair of TMA’s Select Committee on Medicaid, CHIP, and the Uninsured;
- Maria Scranton, MD, member of TMA’s Select Committee on Medicaid, CHIP, and the Uninsured;
- Emily Briggs, MD, chair of the TMA Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health;
- John Edwards, MD, member of the TMA Council on Socioeconomics;
- Yasser Zeid, MD, member of the TMA Council on Legislation;
- Fred McCurdy, MD, medical director of the Driscoll Community Health Plan;
- Jacob Cuellar, MD, chief executive officer of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center; and
- Adolfo Valdez, MD, chief medical officer for Firstcare.
Last Updated On
October 22, 2018
Originally Published On
October 16, 2018