Texas
Hospital Association Endorses
Rep. Thomas Latham for Texas House District 101
 AUSTIN (January 25, 2008) – The Texas Hospital Association’s
state political action committee, HOSPAC, has endorsed
Rep. Thomas Latham (R-Sunnyvale) for Texas House District
101. One of the largest hospital associations in the country,
THA represents more than 85 percent of the state’s
hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 340,000
health care professionals statewide. The 33-member HOSPAC
board makes endorsements based on a candidate’s position
on health care issues and input from local hospital representatives.
“With one in every four Texans lacking health insurance
coverage, the state has the highest rate of uninsured residents
in the nation. This problem affects every Texan, even those
who have health insurance, and it has broad implications
for businesses and government, as well as for providers
and payers,” said Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE,
president/chief executive officer of the Texas Hospital
Association. “Texas has an uninsured crisis, and
the Legislature must take action in 2009.”
Stultz noted that in making endorsements, the HOSPAC Board
reviews incumbents’ voting records, seeks input from
local hospital leaders and interviews candidates. “Thomas
Latham has indicated a willingness to work with hospitals
to address health care issues. Texas hospitals want to
work with lawmakers on new policies that will make health
insurance more accessible and affordable. Addressing the
uninsured issue will help preserve access to hospital services
for everyone by relieving some of the pressure caused by
other issues, such as workforce shortages and escalating
costs for supplies and pharmaceuticals,” he added.
“While the Texas Legislature has made important
progress by removing Children’s Health Insurance
Program barriers to enrollment for some 130,000 young people
and creating a framework for Medicaid reform that may allow
premium assistance to low-income working families, government
programs alone cannot fix the problem, Stultz noted. “The
2008 elections provide the opportunity to elect candidates
who will work with large and small employers, consumers,
insurers, doctors and hospitals to fix our broken health
care system,” he said. “Good health is the
foundation for education and a sound economy. Texas has
to make progress in 2009,” he added.
About the Texas Hospital Association
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the
leadership organization and principal advocate for the
state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based
in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to
improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of
health care for Texans.
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