1. Ryan Henry AVP for Federal and State Relations TTUHSC
Legislative and Congressional Update
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9/21/2018

2. TTUHSC Message for Legislative and Congressional Offices: Food, Fuel and Fiber
TTUHSC met with Texas Congressional delegation in DC in March and with State Legislators in February.
Message: West Texas is an economic engine for Texas and the World.
TTUHSC service area comprised 108 counties with a population of 2.7 million people.
West Texas home to some of the most sparsely populated counties in America, many classified as Frontier.
Yet, the US and much of the world depend on these counties for food, fuel and fiber.
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3. TTUHSC Service Area
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4. Food, Fuel and Fiber
Oil and Gas production and reserves have long been among the largest in the world.
Over 20 percent of the nation’s cotton is grown in West Texas.
Cattle and dairy are major industries
Viticulture grapes grown in South Plains major source for growing wineries in Hill Country
Texas largest wind energy producer in country
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5. Food, Fuel and Fiber
Health Care for the People of West Texas is essential to the economic vitality of the State. Take care of the people that take care the rest of the State.
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6. TTUHSC – EP
SB 120 and HB 257 introduced by El Paso delegation to create a free standing Health Sciences Center.
SB 120 signed by the Governor May 18.
TTUHSC-El Paso becomes the fourth university within the Texas Tech University System.
Focus – border health, hispanic health and the El Paso urban community
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7. GME Expansion
$11,350,000 for GME expansion (The main budget bill, SB 1, provided $2.1M.  HB 2550 sets how this funding is to be spent. The supplemental appropriations bill, HB 1025, provided $9.25M).
Of this amount, $1,875,000 is for one-time planning grants.   The remainder goes to filling unfilled accredited residency slots and increasing the number of slots in accredited GME programs. 
Focus on increasing number of first-year residency positions
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8. GME Expansion
The Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue planning and expansion grant rules, including application deadlines.
THECB Family Practice Advisory Committee meets June 19. Thirty day comment period expected.
Bottom line: be ready to quickly apply for both planning and expansion grants.
For already accredited programs, be aggressive. Demand for grant programs could determine future success in next legislative session.
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9. Federal Funding Update
FY14 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act will most likely be the last of 12 annual appropriation bills to be considered.
This bill funds Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) which provides most federal discretionary rural health care programs.
This bill also provides funding supporting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, including health insurance exchanges.
HHS FY14 funding will likely be approved as another continuing resolution. Programs could be funded at FY13 levels (FY12 levels).
HHS FY14 funding could also be included in a final omnibus appropriation bill.
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10. Affordable Care Act Funding
HHS has funding previously appropriated which could be used to help set up the health insurance marketplaces.
However, the Congressional Research Service has noted HHS will need additional funding for the implementation of the marketplaces and other administrative costs associated with the Affordable Care Act.
Republican Members, especially in the House, do not want to be on record voting for appropriations which would support ACA.
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11. AHEC
President’s FY14 budget request does not request continued funding of AHEC.
Funding restored by Congress in FY13. $27,220,000, same as FY12 level.
Likelihood of FY14 Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriation bill?
AHEC funded at FY12 and FY13 level?
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12. HITREC Program funded through ARRA.
Awardees must spend funds by end of year 2013.
Office of National Coordinator, HRSA, wants HITRECs to have sustainability plans.
Support to allow HITRECs to keep reserve balances beyond 2013 to continue to provide services.
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13. Sequestration
Budget Control Act of 2011 sets discretionary spending caps through 2021.
2013 Sequester (Fiscal Cliff) took effect March % cut for Medicare. Compounds impact for rural health providers.
If a deal is not reached in FY14, possibility sequester rounds could continue in FY15 leading up to next Presidential election.
Politically, budget hawks are getting the spending reductions they want.
Some Republicans concerned the military harm caused by sequestration will lead to a deal.
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14. Ryan Henry 806.743.6000 ext 240 Ryan.Henry@ttuhsc.edu
Questions?
Ryan Henry ext 240
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