TAHP Legislative Guides
Prior to each legislative session, the Texas Association of Health Plans assembles a comprehensive legislative guide highlighting priority issues, reforms and policies that TAHP will be advocating for in the upcoming session.
TAHP Legislative Guides:
TAHP 85th Session Legislative Guide (Commercial Health Insurance)
A guide to TAHP legislative priorities in the 85th Texas Legislature.
January 2017
Now more than ever, it is critical that we work together to find meaningful solutions that ensure affordable health coverage and care for all Texans. Health plans play an important role in lowering health care cost through private market competition and negotiation. Despite efforts to hold down premiums, research shows that premiums track directly with underlying health care costs and utilization of services, which have been consistently trending upwards. Soaring drug prices and emergency medical care costs, including the explosive growth of freestanding ERs in Texas, must be addressed.
TAHP 85th Session Legislative Guide (Medicaid)
A guide to TAHP legislative priorities in the 85th Texas Legislature.
January 2017
The managed care model has proven to be an effective approach in managing Texas Medicaid, as taxpayer dollars are being saved through better care coordination, private market competition and negotiations, and reductions in fraud, waste and abuse. Medicaid managed care, which replaced the less efficient fee-for-service model, has saved the state billions. As a result, Texas has some of the lowest per capita Medicaid costs in the country. TAHP advocates for strengthening the managed care model and fostering further innovations in the 85th Legislature.
TAHP 85th Session Legislative Priorities Booklet
A booklet outlining TAHP positions and background on priority issues in the 85th Texas Legislature.
January 2017
As Texans face a cost crisis in emergency care and services at freestanding ERs, some of the highest rates of surprise medical billing in the country, and soaring prescription drug prices, TAHP looks forward to working with legislators and the entire health care community in the 85th Texas Legislature to better protect consumers and ensure more affordable and transparent health care. In Medicaid, TAHP will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen the managed care model, which has already saved the state and taxpayers billions, and push for greater flexibility that fosters innovation, competition, and better outcomes for Texans who rely on the Medicaid program.
Legislative Solutions to Protect Texans in Emergency Situations
A guide to proposed legislative solutions to better protect Texans seeking emergency care.
March 2017
In the 85th Texas Legislature, legislators have introduced 9 individual bills to address concerns about the rising costs associated with emergency medical care in Texas. This resource guide provides an overview of those proposals and background information on the emergency care cost crisis in Texas.
TAHP 84th Session Legislative Guide
A guide to TAHP legislative priorities in the 84th Texas Legislature.
January 2015
As the state’s population increases and health care costs continue their unsustainable growth, health plans are playing a critical role in providing consumers more options for affordable, quality coverage. The 84th Texas Legislature tackles health care challenges facing Texas consumers and businesses.
TAHP 83rd Session Legislative Guide
January 2013
Transparency legislation addressing uncertain and arbitrary pricing of medical products and services dominated the 83rd Regular Legislative Session. Consumer concerns, specifically “balanced billing” practices served as the basis for many bills seeking disclosure of true costs, billed charges and paid claims in the commercial health insurance market. Strict disclosure requirements of hospitals, health care practitioners and health plans failed.
TAHP 82nd Session Legislative Guide
January 2011
From state budget challenges to federal health care reform, the decisions made during the 82nd Texas Legislature will have a profound impact on Texans’ access to high quality, affordable health care.
TAHP 81st Session Legislative Guide
January 2009
The focus during the 81st Legislative Session is on how to reform the country’s health care system. Clearly, a cultural change affecting lifestyle choices would have considerable impact on the quality of life and medical costs incurred by Americans. And, while policies and attitudes that favor such a shift are gaining momentum, results will not come overnight. In the meantime, policy-makers and stakeholders must face the glaring reality that soaring medical costs are undermining the nation’s health care system.
TAHP 80th Session Legislative Guide
January 2007
Texas is not unlike many states grappling with a growing uninsured population, rising health care costs, uncompensated care, an unsustainable Medicaid program, and consumer and employer demands for increased transparency and value. The urgency for action on these health care challenges has never been greater.