Office of Rural and Community Affairs Sunset Review
HB 2542 by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and Sen. Craig Estes
(R-Wichita Falls) reestablishes the Office of Rural Community
Affairs (ORCA) for eight more years and institutes a new governing
board. This board will take into account issues associated with
rural communities, including access to care.
Rural Physician Relief Program
Within HB 1, the budget bill, ORCA received $332,352 in continued
funding for the Rural Physician Relief Program. Rural physicians
seeking coverage of their practices during a brief absence for
vacation, medical care, or continuing medical education (CME) can
receive assistance in finding a physician to provide locum tenens
services. To help recruit and retain rural physicians, ORCA
provides a forum for physicians to specify their locum tenens
needs, and register their willingness to provide locum tenens and
payment for the locums' coverage. ORCA received $6.6 million for
programs that increase health care access in rural areas, such as
the Texas Health Service Corps and Medically Underserved
Community/State Matching Incentive Program.
Telemedicine
Senate Bill 24 by Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) and Rep. Susan
King (R-Abilene) offers Medicaid reimbursement to physicians for
services rendered through telemedicine. This bill passed in the
hopes of encouraging physicians to participate in these services,
especially for rural areas. SB 24 is effective Sept. 1, 2007.
Senate Bill 760 by Senator Nelson and by Rep. Dianne White
Delisi (R-Temple) requires the Health and Human Services Commission
(HHSC) to encourage health care providers and facilities to
participate in telemedicine. SB 760 passed in the hopes of
increasing the number of providers available through telemedicine
and is effective Sept. 1, 2007.
Rural Health TMA Staff Team:
Legislative: Greg Herzog
Policy: Helen Kent Davis
Legal: Kelly Walla
Overview
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Managed Care/Insurance Reform
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Scope of Practice
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Retail Health Clinics
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Responsible Ownership
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Corporate Practice of Medicine
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Health Care Funding
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Medicaid, CHIP, and the
Uninsured
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Public Health
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Border Health
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Mental Health
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Emergency Medical Services and
Trauma Care
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Medical Science and Quality
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Physician Workforce, Licensure,
and Discipline
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Health Information Technology
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Prescription Drugs
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Long-Term Care
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Workers' Compensation
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Abortion
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Franchise Tax Reform
Last Updated On
July 23, 2010
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010