Q3 2023
IN REVIEW
Q3 IN REVIEW Page 3
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Latest from the Legislature
Industry Issues
> THA's Testimony Tips
> Strengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care: Unveiling Critical Security Gaps
> The Federal Case: THA in Washington > New Health Care Laws, Explained > The Final State Budget: Dollars for Development
Page 7
> Rebuilding Your Workforce with a Traveler Conversion Program > Texas Hospitals Don’t Have to be Surprised > Mosquito-Borne Illness: A Risk in Every Bite
Member Spotlights > Hispanic Heritage Month
Page 24
> Summer Spotlight on Texas Hospitals
From the CEO's Desk
> Newsmakers
> Let COVID’s Resurgence Be a Reminder: Get the Shots You Need > Hard Work Continues on Behalf of Rural Hospitals
FROM THE
> Hospitals Have New Hope to Regain Needed Personnel Power
The Scope is the blog of the Texas Hospital Association. From articles about innovative products and services to in-depth pieces on current issues and trends, The Scope provides relevant insights that health care executives can use in supporting their hospitals.
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Editor Julia Mann
Texas Hospital Association Q3 2023 | The Scope 3
Here are some practical tips from Duncan on how health care leaders can best prepare to deliver effective testimony at the Texas Capitol.
THA’S
TESTIMONY TIPS
Here’s how Texas’ health care leaders can make their voices heard in the legislature. Written By: Amy Rios
There’s an old axiom that goes, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
The anonymous adage has been credited to a variety of individuals, mostly politicians, which makes sense considering the nature of lawmaking. Standing before lawmakers to articulate the needs, trials and triumphs of hospitals and the communities they serve is necessary to ensure that health care policy is rooted in reality. “Often at THA, we have attorneys testifying or other employees at THA,” says Cameron Duncan, J.D., vice president of Advocacy and Public Policy at THA. “However, it is so vital and imperative and translates much better when someone directly from the industry is sharing their story with a lawmaker.” Before a bill becomes law in Texas, it must be referred to a committee in either the House or the Senate. Throughout the legislative process, members of the public have the opportunity, and the civic responsibility, to speak with committee members directly about the bill in an open forum. This is referred to as public testimony. Over the course of three legislative sessions, Duncan has testified at the Texas Capitol over 50 times in various committees in the Texas House and Senate. He has also coached many outside testifiers, most recently THA Leadership Fellows. 4 The Scope | Q3 2023
THA’s current cohort of Leadership Fellows had the unique opportunity to experience what testifying in front of a Texas Senate committee feels like. Fellows were divided into groups and asked to deliver mock testimony before a panel of THA’s lobbyists and advocacy staff on a health care-related bill. They would then field questions from the panel that reflected real-world questions posed in committee hearings.
“It’s important that health care leaders have the experience and practice of testifying because once you’re at the Capitol, the stakes are much higher and you’re going to be nervous,” Duncan says. “So having the practice of going through it once, experiencing what the questions are like and just going through the formalities is so important.”
Preparing to Testify
During Your Testimony
As you prepare your testimony, consider the following:
• Prepare to be interrupted. Committee members often pose questions amid testimony. Use this as an opportunity to educate them or provide clarification but try not to let it derail your remarks. Interruptions also provide you with more time to testify.
• Use bullets, not a script. As you prepare to testify, consider writing all the points you want to make in bullet points instead of writing an entire script to read from verbatim. This will allow you to jump around more freely and not get easily derailed if interrupted. • Memorize your introduction. Everyone who testifies on a bill must open with an introduction. This introduction will include addressing the committee chair, stating your name, the organization you represent and your position on the bill. Memorizing this simple introduction is a good way to build your momentum. • Time your remarks. Most committees limit testimony to two or three minutes. • Watch public testimony ahead of time. Try to watch public testimony from the committee you’ll be testifying in. Live and archived testimony from the Texas House of Representatives can be found here. Live testimony from the Texas Senate can be found here and archived testimony can be found here.
The Day of Your Testimony • Show up for the committee hearing on time. Prepare to stay until the end of the hearing as bills are not always heard in the order listed on the agenda. • Register as soon as you arrive. House and Senate committees have electronic registration on iPads outside of the hearing room.
• Never interrupt someone on the committee who is speaking. Patiently listen and answer their question if you have an answer. • Remain calm and professional. Committee discussions can get heated and may include banter that is contrary to what you believe are the facts. Never let such discourse affect your demeanor. • Never make up an answer. Saying, “I don’t know, but I will find out and follow-up with your office,” is a perfectly acceptable response to a question. • Thank the committee. Always close your testimony with a thank-you to the committee and an offer to answer their questions.
Testifying before lawmakers is a conduit for bidirectional communication where lawmakers gain insight into hospitals’ real-world challenges and health care leaders can better understand the legislative nuances that drive policy. Without the participation of health care leaders, lawmakers are left to rely on the words and perspectives of other groups, which might not accurately represent the complexity of health care delivery. “We hear all the time from lawmakers that they are undecided on a bill, and they want to see how public testimony pans out,” Duncan says. “So, it’s not just a formality. It actually is vital and does inform the process.” Duncan understands that, despite their expertise, health care leaders might still be nervous about speaking in front of committee members. However, after three legislative sessions, Duncan knows that real-world experience trumps everything.
Learn more about THA’s advocacy in action, including public testimony delivered during the 88th legislative session here.
“I would tell a first-time testifier that they know much more about the topic than anybody else in the room and they should take comfort in that.”
Learn more about THA’s Leadership Fellows program here.
Q3 2023 | The Scope 5
Legislative News Articles
New Health Care Laws, Explained THA's 2023 New Health Care Laws details implications for hospitals and providers. Continue Reading
The Final State Budget: Dollars for Development THA’s work secures key allocations for Medicaid, rural health, behavioral health and more during 2024-25. Continue Reading
Member Spotlights
The Federal Case: THA in Washington Hospital advocates will continue tackling site-neutral payments, Medicaid cuts as Congress returns to session. Continue Reading 6 The Scope | Q3 2023
Q1 2023 | The Scope 7
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, THA is recognizing a handful of Hispanic leaders in Texas hospitals and health care. Join us in celebrating the following Hispanic hospital leaders:
Edmundo Castañeda, FACHE
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Parkland Health
Jacob Cintron
Celebrating Hispanic Leaders in Texas Hospitals
Norma Martínez Rogers, PhD, MSN, RN, Professor Emeritus
UT Health Science Center San Antonio School of Nursing
Erika Ramirez
President & CEO, El Paso County Hospital District
Senior Director Health Policy, Texas Hospital Association
Nina Costilla
Martina Ramirez, RN
Jacob Cuellar, MD
Geronimo Rodriguez
Sara González
Irene Sandate, DNP
Clinical Projects Manager, Texas Hospital Association
Manager, Neurology Center, Titus Regional Medical Center
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, THA is celebrating Hispanic leaders in Texas hospitals and health care. Written By: Julia Mann
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 each year as a time to recognize and honor the rich cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. In Texas, where Hispanic culture is deeply intertwined with the state's identity, this month takes on special significance. Texas hospitals are not only celebrating this vibrant heritage but also actively working to improve the lives of Hispanic communities across the state – an effort that’s undertaken by health care workers year-round. Texas is home to a significant Hispanic population, with over 30% of its residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. As such, Texas hospitals understand the importance of diversity and inclusivity in health care. Hospitals across the state strive to create an environment where every patient feels welcome and receives culturally competent care. This means understanding the unique health care needs and preferences of Hispanic patients. From ensuring language accessibility for Spanish-speaking patients and training providers in cultural competencies, to tackling widespread health disparities head-on, hospital leaders across Texas are constantly looking to expand access and improve the quality of equitable health care for Hispanic communities. And, as the Hispanic population in Texas continues to grow and diversify, these efforts will only become more important.
CEO, Laurel Ridge Treatment Center
Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, Texas Hospital Association
Chief Advocacy Officer, Ascension Texas
Chief Nursing Officer, University Health Women’s & Children’s Hospital
Cesar Lopez, J.D.
Associate General Counsel, Texas Hospital Association
8 The Scope | Q3 2023
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Summer Spotlight on Texas Hospitals THA-member hospitals and health systems have been in the news this summer for heartwarming health care,
Former NBA Player Finds Support, Treatment with Texas Health Fort Worth
Oncologists walk patient down the aisle: ‘It was a huge honor’
Texas Children’s Hospital Announces Homecoming for Formerly Conjoined Twin Girls Ella Grace and Eliza Faith Fuller
Toddler undergoes first-of-its-kind heart transplant after 2 open-heart surgeries
Memorial Hermann Health System Makes a Strategic Investment in Memora Health to Modernize Care Delivery
Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women Announces Opening of New Medical Tower
expanding hospital access and many more outstanding achievements. Day in and day out, Texas hospitals provide life-saving care to Texans from all walks of life. Even in the hot summer months, Texas health care providers are hard at work improving the lives of those in their communities. Throughout the summer, there’s been no shortage of Texas hospitals’ excellence in the news. From patient success stories to big moves hospitals are making to expand access to care, we thought we’d share just a few of the top stories coming from Texas hospitals this summer.
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Newsmakers THA’s Newsmakers highlights leaders from THA member hospitals and health systems making headlines in Texas health care. Please join in congratulating our Newsmakers. Written by Julia Mann
UT Teen Health gets $9.86 million federal grant to stem teen pregnancies in South Texas
Arlington honors the first Black nurse in the city’s history
JULY Marcus Jackson, FACHE Medical City Las Colinas
Janie Thompson St. David’s Georgetown Hospital
Megan Amalakuhan Westover Hills Hospital
Joe Hernandez Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare
Thomas McKinney, MHA, FACHE Baptist Medical Center
Maria Garvin Medical City Las Colinas
Patty Howard, MSN, RN HCA
Anthony Meador, MBA, MSS, FACHE Ascension Seton Medical Center
Allison Cain Woodland Heights Medical Center Seth Herrick St. David's South Austin Medical Center
AUGUST
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital --- Tyler Receives National Recognition for Stroke Care
Two Texas hospitals named to U.S. News 2023-2024 Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland
Alan Harmatz, MD Medical City Dallas
Rachel Marek, MD Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands
Michelle C. Stemley, DNP, RN NEA-BC The Woman's Hospital of Texas
Jason Barrett, MBA, FACHE Northwest Texas Healthcare System
Lara Johnson, MD Covenant Health
Debra Feigin Sukin, PhD Texas Children’s Hospital
Rodolfo "Rudy" Garza, MD St. David's Medical Center
Kari McCord, M.S.N., RNC-OB, C-EFM, NE-BC Texas Health Resources
Jonelle Thomas, MSN, RN, NE-BC St. David’s Georgetown Hospital
SEPTEMBER
John Hoover Medical City Fort Worth
12 The Scope | Q3 2023
Have a colleague making news in Texas health care? Send us a nomination for THA Newsmakers! Q3 2023 | The Scope 13
Industry Issues Articles
Industry Issues
Strengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care: Unveiling Critical Security Gaps
Rebuilding Your Workforce with a Traveler Conversion Program
Discover security gaps facing health care organizations, how to fortify cybersecurity defenses, and what next steps to take during a breach.
Nonprofit health system converts 13% of Travelers to Permanent Staff.
Read Now
Mosquito-Borne Illness: A Risk in Every Bite
Texas Hospitals Don’t Have to be Surprised
West Nile virus is always the top concern for Texas health authorities, but malaria has resurfaced for the first time in decades.
Dexur’s predictive analytics capability allows hospitals to foresee their CMS Star Ratings, HRRP penalties and VBP payouts.
Read Now
14 The Scope | Q3 2023
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Q3 2023 | The Scope 15
Industry Issues Articles
Hospitals Have New Hope to Regain Needed Personnel Power July 2023 Read Now
THA, other groups work together to greatly improve Texas advance directives law. THA, other groups work together to greatly improve Texas advance directives law. Continue Reading
From the CEO's Desk
Hard Work Continues on Behalf of Rural Hospitals August 2023 Read Now
Notes from John Hawkins, President and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association
5 Ways Payment Automation Helps Rural Hospitals Succeed Leveraging Paymerang's Payment Automation helps rural hospitals alleviate financial stressors and keep doors open for patients in these communities. Continue Reading
Let COVID’s Resurgence Be a Reminder: Get the Shots You Need September 2023 Read Now
16 The Scope | Q3 2023
Q3 2023 | The Scope 17
Keep up with the latest news for Texas hospitals by Texas hospitals.