Dewhurst, Senate propose their own health care overhaul for Texas

 AUSTIN — Texas’ government and private health insurance plans need new methods of paying caregivers, Senate Republican leaders said Wednesday. Doctors and hospitals should not be reimbursed for volume but for quality and good results for patients, said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

Garrett was busy today: http://dallasne.ws/dXw9Jk

Abbott hails Virginia judge for overruling key health law provision

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was quick to applaud today's ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that the health overhaul law goes too far in requiring individuals to purchase health insurance, starting in 2014.


Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/ffmb3c

Study: Texas big winner under health law

Garrett reports:
This just in: A new study says Texas will be a big winner under the federal health care overhaul -- assuming it doesn't secede from the union, pull the plug on its Medicaid program or at every turn drag its feet.


States that don't aggressively gear up to take advantage of the law may forfeit a chance to virtually cut in half the ranks of their uninsured adults who are poor or just barely above the poverty line, the researchers warned.
http://tinyurl.com/2e3cbty

No relief seen for Dallas' shortage of family docs

Garrett reports from the AHCJ conference in the Windy City:

Dallas and most areas of Texas are running pretty low on family doctors, pediatricians, internists and other front-line docs. Experts predict primary care doctors will be in huge demand as the federal health care overhaul law in coming years boosts how many people have insurance coverage.


Pay levels, though, aren't high enough to solve the problem any time soon, Irving-based doctor recruiter Kurt Mosley said this afternoon at the Association of Health Care Journalists meeting in Chicago.
http://tinyurl.com/29y8bv2

Medina back to debate, this time about electronic health records

Garrett reports:

AUSTIN – Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina brought her concerns about health care – along with a video camera – to the Capitol on Thursday.


Medina recorded a legislative panel's hearing about electronic medical records, and later sparred with two of its GOP members about state health care regulation. The senators, both staunch conservatives, greeted Medina politely but questioned her ideas.

State estimates health care overhaul will cost Texas $27 billion

Garrett reports on wide disparity between state, federal estimates of health care costs:

AUSTIN – Texas, accused of vastly inflating its costs under the health care legislation that President Barack Obama signed last week, just upped the tab.


Health and Human Services Commission chief Tom Suehs presented lawmakers Wednesday with an estimate of $27 billion over a decade to expand health insurance coverage. It had been about $24 billion.

Hutchison amendment would allow states to opt out of health care law

As the Senate moves toward votes on a plethora of changes to the reconciliation bill tonight, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has authored an amendment (pdf) that would allow states like Texas to opt out of provisions that mandate insurance coverage and impose new taxes. Dave Michaels reports.

Texas attorney general backed state health coverage law

The AP reports on AG Abbott's own efforts to boost compliance:

AUSTIN – Attorney General Greg Abbott, who joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the new federal health care law this week, is taking heat from Democrats who say he backed a plan that required noncustodial parents to provide medical coverage for their children.