Friends,
As this school year comes to a close, I want to thank all of the teachers for their hard work and dedication over these last ten months. Your efforts are not always commended the way they should be, but know your community would not be as strong as it is without you. I hope all the teachers, parents, and students have a wonderful summer holiday!
In this edition of the Capitol Update, you can read about last week’s House Insurance Committee interim hearing, events around the district, and a recognition from the Texas Association of Community Health Centers
- House Insurance Committee Interim Hearing,
- Events Around HD130, and
- A Recognition from the Texas Association of Community Health Centers.
As always, feel free to call my office by phone at (512) 463-0661 or email District130.Oliverson@House.
House Insurance Committee Interim Hearing
Last week, the House Insurance Committee, which I chair, held its first interim hearing. After each legislative session, the Speaker of the House charges every committee with studying the implementation of bills passed during the previous year and researching ideas for potential future legislation.
The committee met for two days so that we could cover a variety of health insurance-related topics. During the hearing, we had robust conversations on surprise medical billing, preauthorization requirements for physicians, hospital price transparency, and a number of other topics.
If you would like to read more about what we discussed in our hearing, you can click here.
If you would like to watch video footage of the hearing, you can click here for day one and here for day two.
House District 130 Events
Our District Director, Grace, has been busy the last couple of weeks attending events in HD130.
Last week was Tomball’s Police Week, where we were able to attend a ceremony honoring the standing and the fallen. National Police Week was established in 1962 after President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Thank you to the Tomball Police Department for allowing us to be a part of this meaningful ceremony. Back the blue!
Chaplin Gary Crowe delivering the invocation at Tomball Police Week.
Chief Jeffrey Bert delivering remarks.
We also attended the swearing in of Tomball’s new Mayor, Lori Klein Quinn! Thank you to outgoing Mayor Gretchen Fagan for your service. We look forward to working with Mayor Lori Klein Quinn!
Mayor Lori Klein Quinn being sworn in as Tomball’s new Mayor!
City Manager David Esquivel honoring outgoing Mayor Gretchen Fagan for her service.
A Recognition from the Texas Association of Community Health Center
Last week, I was honored by the Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) for my efforts in assisting to secure $20 million for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) incubator grant program during the 3rd Special Session last year.
Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. They must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients. This incubator program will help community health centers diffuse the cost of applying for FQHC status.
