Conference to Discuss $1 Billion Healthcare Investment in South Texas
First Annual Regional Meeting on 1115 Medicaid Waiver Projects May 21-22 in San Antonio
A slate of regional and statewide leaders and experts will discuss how the Texas 1115 Medicaid waiver is improving health and transforming healthcare in communities throughout South Texas at a conference in San Antonio.
The first annual Regional Healthcare Partnership Summit and Learning Collaborative will take place May 21-22 at the Omni San Antonio Hotel in the Colonnade. It will focus on the $1 billion in local and federal funding being invested in our region, as well as the impact of the waiver throughout Texas. More than 120 local projects have been funded so far in Bexar and 19 surrounding counties.
Among the topics of discussion:
- Dr. Steve Murdock, professor of sociology at Rice University and former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, on demographic trends and their likely impact on healthcare in Texas
- Healthcare executives on the impact on their institutions and their communities, including George B. Hernández Jr., president/CEO of University Health System; Patrick Carrier, president/CEO of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System; John Henderson, CEO of Childress Regional Medical Center; Melissa Rowan, healthcare policy director of Texas Council of Community Centers; Dr. Kenneth Shine, special advisor to the chancellor of the University of Texas System
- Dr. Thomas Schlenker, director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District; and Dr. Bryan Alsip, chief medical officer of University Health System; on the impact on public health.
- A statewide perspective from Lisa Kirsch, deputy director of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- The role of managed care organizations, with Greg Gieseman, CEO of Community First Health Plans; and David Gonzales, CEO of the Texas Association of Health Plans
Regional Healthcare Partnership Region 6 includes Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, McMullen, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson, and Zavala counties.
In late 2011, Texas was granted a waiver known as the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program, under Section 1115 of the Medicaid program. The waiver created a source of funds called the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment pool, or DSRIP. Through DSRIP, hospitals, health departments, community mental health organizations and state medical schools developed projects aimed at transforming the delivery, availability and quality of health services. University Health System is the administrative anchor for RHP Region 6.
For more information and to register, go to www.texasrhp6.com/rhp6-summit. Registration deadline is May 1. News media wishing to cover the conference should contact Leni Kirkman or Don Finley.
