THCA

Volume XXX, Number 5,
May 2015

Make the Call

“Let your tongue speak what your heart thinks.”

(Davy Crockett)

Members of THCA, we are at an important and critical juncture in this 84th Legislative Session. In the past two weeks, the 10 members of the Budget Conference Committee were appointed to draft the 2016-2017 Budget. The members of the Conference Committee are:

Senate

Jane Nelson(R-Flower Mound), Chair

Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen)

Joan Huffman (R-Houston)

Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)

Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)

House

John Otto (R-Dayton), Chair

Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)

Sarah Davis (R-West University Place)

Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock)

Sylvester Turner (D-Houston)

Over the next couple of weeks, the men and women listed above will be involved in critical decisions regarding how state funds should be spent over the next two years. There is currently no provision in the budget to increase Medicaid rates.

As representatives and leaders who serve long term care residents and their families across the state, you can help play a critical role in to influence the decision process. No one knows better than you all, what can be done and how far we can go, with the funding necessary to make Texas a leader in long term care quality.

Take 10 minutes……Take 10 minutes out of the next seven days to contact your state Representative and State Senator and tell them about how important increased Medicaid rates are to you, your families and the communities you serve. Urge them to speak to their colleagues on the Budget Conference Committee on your behalf.

Your message is important and it needs to be heard.

Onward and Upward