Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, today presided jointly over the state’s first hearing on the Texas impact of the recently approved federal health care reform legislation.
“I remain concerned about the impact these unprecedented federal mandates will have on our state budget, our small business employers, and our health care workforce,” said Senator Nelson, R-Flower Mound.
“This 2,400-page bill is embedded with provisions that will force Texas to make significant changes to our health and human services policies. We must move quickly to understand the details of the federal legislation and how it will impact Texas.”
Today’s hearing was held jointly by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, which Senator Nelson chairs, and the Senate Committee on State Affairs. The two panels were assigned a joint interim study of the implications of the federal legislation on Texas, the health care industry, and public and private insurance. The committees will publish a joint report of its findings prior to the next session of the Texas Legislature, which will reconvene in January 2011.
The hearing included testimony from Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Thomas Suehs and Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin. To listen to an archived video of the hearing, go to http://www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/.
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