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Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Public Health
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Public Health
1. ISSUE: Third trimester syphilis screening for all
pregnant women across Texas, with emphasis on
Bexar County.
– RECOMMENDATIONS: Amend existing Texas law
(Chapter 81.090 of the Texas Health and Safety
Code) to require that practitioners add a syphilis
test during the third trimester (28-32 weeks) of
pregnancy.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Strong support for the recommendation.
• Important to understand why congenital
syphilis cases happened.
• Identify physician champions to support
implementation of this clinical guideline now.
• Concern that prevention is not covered in the
recommendation.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Public Health
2. ISSUE: Reduce barriers to inclusion in the state
immunization registry by moving to an “opt-out” as
opposed to “opt-in” registry system.
– RECOMMENDATIONS: Support legislation that
improves the state’s ability to collect and monitor
statewide immunization data; amend Texas Health
and Safety Code Chapter 161 by moving to an “opt
out” versus the current “opt in” consent.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Strong support for the recommendation.
• Data is of high value to schools.
• Need to also target immunizations for older
populations.
• Would be helpful to also include birth defects
registry.
• HASA could help make data accessible.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Public Health
3.
ISSUE: The rise in obesity in the United States tracks in
parallel with our increased consumption of sugar: almost 80
pounds of added sugar to our diet per year. Almost half of our
added consumption of sugar is in liquid form: soda, sugarsweetened juices, and sports drinks.
– RECOMMENDATIONS: Support appropriations to the
Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to support
local communities that desire to educate their members
on the connection between obesity and excess sugary
beverage consumption and to promote drinking water
instead.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Strong support for the recommendation.
• Include all sugar sweetened beverages as well
as 100% juice as 100% juice has a lot of sugar
and is available in large serving sizes.
• Consider changing language from “excess
consumption” to “daily consumption.”
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Public Health
4. ISSUE: Research has demonstrated a clear link
between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and
increased risk of poor diet quality, higher rates of obesity,
and obesity-related health problems.
– RECOMMENDATION: Support legislation that seeks
to restrict the types of beverages that may be sold to
students on public school campuses with emphasis
on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Strong support for the recommendation.
• Recommend that soda should not be available
to adults in schools as well
• Need to provide clear assessment on the
economic impact to schools.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Higher Education and Healthcare Workforce
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Higher Education and Healthcare Workforce
1. ISSUE: Changing demographics and the capacity to meet
the healthcare needs of the population.
– RECOMMENDATION: Support legislation directed at
focusing on the growing majority Hispanic population
in the healthcare workforce and the creation of
pathways to healthcare support occupations; health
technologists and technicians; and ultimately to health
diagnosis and treating. Support legislation directed at
continuing the efforts by Texas Workforce Commission
in administering College Credit for Heroes programs.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
•Creating a support system for students
–Cultural workforce grants
–Holistic admissions process
–Wrap-around services/sustainability
–Creating and advocating a national model for success
• Community Outreach
–“Promotores” Health Prevention Advocates
(as community health workers)
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Higher Education and Healthcare Workforce
2. ISSUE: Although the education of nurses has expanded significantly, there are still
major shortages of baccalaureate-prepared nurses, advanced practice registered
nurses and nursing faculty.
– RECOMMENDATIONS: Support Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Nursing Shortage Reduction Funds increases; create Texas Nurse Loan
Repayment program for nurses who chose to complete a doctoral degree in
nursing and enter a faculty role; support higher education funding request
(Formula Funding and Tuition Revenue Bonds); remove barriers for nurse
practitioner practice authority; health professionals should be granted full
practice authority to practice to the fullest extent of their education and
demonstrated competencies.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
•Removing barriers to APRN and PA education programs
•Additional funding for PA, APRN, RN and Allied Health
professional education
•Further recruitment and additional funding support for
expanded faculty resources
•Increase partnership with higher education institutions
through MOU, clinical practice, and other community outreach
efforts
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Higher Education and Healthcare Workforce
3. ISSUE: The lack of Graduate Medical Education (residency) positions in Texas
continues to create a bottleneck impacting Texas’ ability to meet current and
growing patient needs for healthcare.
– RECOMMENDATION: Support appropriations to maintain the advances
made to increase the number of medical residents through the targeted
GME Expansion Grant programs. The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board has requested the following appropriations that
should be supported: Planning Grants $900,000, Unfilled Position Grants
$6.5 million, New and Expanded Program Grants $12.5 million, Grants
for Additional Residency Years $2.925 million, Resident Physician
Expansion Grant $5 million, Primary Care Innovation Grant $2.1 million.
Need stable education platforms!
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Healthcare Coverage
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Healthcare Coverage
• ISSUE: Find a uniquely Texas Way Program to provide
access to healthcare coverage to the millions of
working Texans who are not covered by an employer.
– RECOMMENDATION: Support a uniquely Texan,
private market-based coverage program that will
provide affordable healthcare coverage to lowwage working Texans and strengthen the state’s
economy.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Strong need to have local and statewide business
leadership support of this initiative.
• Agreement that focuses on shared patient
responsibility is important in promoting the Texas
Way Program.
• Must seek to realize efficiencies to control cost
while continuing to provide value-based care.
• Focus on Impact to Human Lives
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice
1. ISSUE: State funding disparities in mental
health services across Texas severely restrict
access to much needed care and cost-effective
treatment.
– RECOMMENDATION: Support legislation to
increase Bexar County Mental Health
Authority funding to current statewide
average of $15.37 per person.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice
2. ISSUE: Drug courts guide offenders identified as
drug-addicted into treatment under intensive
judicial supervision that will reduce drug
dependence, reduce recidivism, and improve the
quality of life for them and their families.
– RECOMMENDATION: Seek state appropriations
to fund drug courts in Bexar County at a
sustainable level or at 100% operational costs.
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Other Considerations
• Collaborative model in Bexar County should continue to be
showcased while advocating for funding for both LMHA & felony drug
court
• Request new funds at the state level rather than a redistribution of
existing funds
– Provide equity at the per capita funding level for urban areas
– Outline the ROI clearly for an upfront investment in mental health
– Request community funding and funding for state hospital expansion
• Identify and carve out funding specifically for children
• Identify funding and strategies to address workforce shortage issues
for behavioral health
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit
Closing Remarks
Judge Nelson Wolff
Bexar County
Healthcare Summit