Whereas, The plight of medically uninsured citizens of Texas is impeding the health of all Texans, the Texas economy, and the health of the practice of medicine in Texas; and
Whereas, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured citizens in our country; and
Whereas, The uninsured population is only one part of a larger crisis facing healthcare which includes the underinsured, increasing demands on the health care system, and skyrocketing costs for health care and/or coverage; and
Whereas, Texas citizens, like most U.S. citizens, overwhelmingly feel that the health care delivery system has major faults that need to be corrected; and
Whereas, The increasing public pressure is obligating our political leaders to enact some sort of government intervention in health care which may not be in the best interests of patients, physicians, and our country as a whole; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Texas Medical Association become the trusted leader in crafting solutions for the problem of the medically uninsured; and be it further
RESOLVED , That TMA establish a blue ribbon Ad Hoc Committee for the Medically Uninsured with the mission to seek realistic and workable solutions to address the problems of the medically uninsured in Texas and to ensure the viability and health of medical practice in Texas; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the tasks of the committee be to organize all relevant TMA policy under one committee to become a single source of research, advocacy, and consensus solutions to the plight of the uninsured and other real or perceived problems with our healthcare system, and to direct focused efforts for the benefit of our patients (the general public), print media, televised media, state legislators, and national legislators, etc.; and be it further
RESOLVED, That TMA make the plight of the medically uninsured in Texas its No. 1 priority.