The Greater Houston Partnership supports public policies that increase access to affordable health care, encourage efficiency in the health care industry and foster collaboration between and among public and private sector providers.
A Region in Crisis: A Call to Reduce the Uninsured and Expand Access to Health Care in the Ten-County Houston Region (A White Paper and Addendum)
The Houston region is in the midst of a health care crisis, one which affects the health of most Houstonians and their neighbors and threatens the economic viability and quality of life currently enjoyed by its residents. The crisis consists of two inter-connected issues related to access to and the cost of health care that must be addressed simultaneously:
- the highest rates of health care uninsured in the country; and
- an over-burdened, fragmented safety net provider system for the uninsured/medically indigent.
This is a regional problem that can only be solved through collaborative initiatives undertaken by all stakeholders - government, health care providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and others. Unless the community begins to address the issues that are at the root of the problem, the health care crisis in the Houston region will continue to escalate.
Greater Houston Partnership's intent is to clarify and educate the public about the specific issues driving the health care crisis in the Houston region; to highlight what is currently being done to address these issues (and why these efforts are insufficient); to propose comprehensive and manageable solutions; and to outline the steps that can be taken to ensure this problem receives the appropriate resources necessary to solve it. It is intended that this white paper will become the critical first step on the long journey towards the twin goals of reducing the uninsured and establishing a sustainable, equitable and compassionate health care system in the Houston region.
Federal Health Care Reform
On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act - the final consolidation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the amendments to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - was signed into law. This monumental legislation creates a number of provisions and new initiatives designed to expand access, improve quality and lower the costs of delivering health care services to Americans.
As the primary business advocate of the 10-county Houston region, the Partnership recognizes that without a strong and reliable health care delivery system, it is challenging for our members and regional economic development allies to compete in a global economy against competitors who have significantly lower health care costs. Therefore, to help educate and guide members through this comprehensive health care reform , the Partnership is pleased to provide links to the following resources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Kaiser Family Foundation
The Commonwealth Fund
Please click here for a graphical illustration of the timeline for health reform implementation, prepared by The Commonwealth Fund.
2011 Resolutions
May 3, 2011 In Support of Directing Revenue from an Increase in the Cigarette Tax to the Property Tax Relief Fund
April 6, 2011 In Support of the Statewide Smoking Ban
April 6, 2011 In Support of the Governor’s Omnibus Tort Reform Package (originated from Business Issues Committee)
April 6, 2011 In Support of Additional Usage of the Rainy Day Fund (originated from Business Issues Committee)
2010 Resolutions
December 10, 2010 In Support of the Addendum to the “A Region in Crisis: A Call to Reduce the Uninsured and Expand Access to Health Care in the Ten-County Houston Region” White Paper
December 10, 2010 In Support of Preparation for Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
October 6, 2010 In Support of Health Information Technology
October 6, 2010 In Support of Trauma Care Funding
October 6, 2010 In Support of Expanding the Health Care Work Force
February 3, 2010 In Support of the "A Region in Crisis: A Call to Reduce the Uninsured and Expand Access to Health Care in the Ten-County Houston Region" White Paper
Click here for more policies.
Health Care Committees
To promote and advocate for improved health care efficiencies for the region's business community, the Partnership offers three health care committees:
- The Health Care Policy Advisory Committee supports initiatives which foster Houston's position as a world leader in health care, biotechnology and nanotechnology. The committee also assists in the coordination of business, health care and public sector efforts to increase health care access, control rising health care costs and reduce the number of uninsured and underinsured in the Houston region.
- The Health Care Business Development Committee assists in the development of business opportunities for regional health care businesses and ventures which result in economic growth of the region's health care market.
- The Health Care Emerging Issues Committee assists the health care business community with identifying initiatives and innovations which establish and maintain the region as a national leader in providing quality health care and economic development in the health care industry.
Texas Medical Center
To preserve, protect and promote the Texas Medical Center as one of the region’s crown jewels, the Greater Houston Partnership formed the Texas Medical Center Task Force in 2010. The goal of the task force is to create a sustainable marketing and brand awareness campaign that showcases the world’s largest medical complex nationally and internationally and build it into a worldwide medical destination.
