Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM May 2019 | Page 14
HEALTHCARE
ASHLEA QUINONEZ
Director, Local & Community Relations | Memorial Hermann Health System
Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee, League City Regional Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
Business Advocacy MATTERS
T
he state legislature is in full swing with
hundreds of bills being heard in committee,
significant issues being vigorously discussed,
votes being taken and the end of the session
on the horizon.
One of the most significant legislative issues
healthcare professionals have been
focused upon is maintaining funding for the
region’s trauma care network. Every four
minutes, someone in Texas is faced with an
unexpected traumatic injury. Every one of
us knows one of these trauma victims, or we
have been one of them.
When these tragic events occur, we expect
a local trauma room to be available and to
have trained professionals ready to provide
healing care.
Houston is a hub for trauma care in the state.
Memorial Hermann, which is home to one of
the busiest Level I trauma centers in the nation,
treats an estimated 12 percent of the state’s
inpatient trauma victim volume. We are able to
provide this care, thanks in part to a state law
passed in 2003 which established the Driver
Responsibility Program (DRP), which aimed
to offset the expensive cost of trauma care
through surcharges levied against reckless
drivers. Unfortunately, the DRP has presented
significant challenges, which is why the League
City Regional Chamber of Commerce and
other chambers throughout the region have
engaged in advocating for abolishing the DRP
while devising a better funding mechanism to
underpin the state’s trauma infrastructure.
Thanks to our efforts and the support of
Houston-area legislators, House Bill 2048 and
Senate Bill 918 propose a new, sustainable
funding stream for the high quality trauma
care that Texans have come to expect. We
believe that these bills represent the most
equitable, stable source of funding for state
trauma centers and we are working to ensure
that the Texas legislature agrees.
Trauma funding is just one example of how
the decisions of our lawmakers directly impact
our lives. The successes on this legislation
underscore just how important advocacy is
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MOMENTUM
for the betterment of our communities. Thank you to
those of you who have participated in advocacy this
state legislative session. Your efforts on issues vital to
our industries and communities do not go unnoticed.
The legislative session ends May 27. Let’s continue our
advocacy efforts and finish strong.