Testifying before the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education on May 5, Maureen Milligan, THOT’s president and CEO, asked lawmakers to fund clinical training sites for non-physician health care professionals. While the Legislature recognizes the importance of and appropriates funding for clinical training for physicians through Graduate Medical Education residencies, clinical training for…
Statement From the Teaching Hospitals of Texas on Federal Action to Investigate Nurse Staffing Agencies
“As the largest employers of registered nurses in the state, THOT members are disproportionately affected by the prolonged nurse staffing shortage and actions that may have been taken by some nurse staffing agencies during the pandemic to increase their own profits at the expense not only of hospitals but, more importantly, of taxpayers and our…
Match Day Marks Special Day for Texas Teaching Hospitals
Every year, Texas teaching hospitals celebrate the success of future physicians with the announcement of their students’ latest matching with residency programs across the state and nation. UT Southwestern recently celebrated their own medical students and their matches. Read more about UT Southwestern’s matches here.
Statement From the Teaching Hospitals of Texas on CMS’ COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Providers
“‘Unprecedented’ is the word most frequently used to describe the COVID-19 pandemic. From the national death toll of nearly 730,000 Americans to the disruptions to our ordinary way of life, the novel coronavirus is something most of us have never before experienced. A federal vaccine mandate for hospitals, too, is new and reflects the severity…
THOT Applauds Appointment of Ben Raimer, M.D. as President of UTMB
After a national search, the University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Ben Raimer, M.D. president of the University of Texas Medical Branch as its sixth president. “Ben is a longtime friend of THOT, and I’m delighted that he will continue leading UTMB,” said Maureen Milligan, Ph.D., CEO, Teaching Hospitals of Texas. “His…
San Antonio Op Ed: University Health Chief Medical Officer Provides Clarity on Reduced Health Risks Associated With COVID Vaccine
Hospital leaders continue providing clear data on COVID patients arriving for treatment in their emergency rooms, ICUs, and clinics. Bryan Alsip, MD, MPH, FACPM, is the chief medical officer of University Health in San Antonio. In a commentary published by the San Antonio Express-News, Alsip makes clear the kinds of patient cases their medical staff…

Waiver Budget Neutrality: What does it mean for new waiver initiatives?
1115 waivers must be budget neutral; i.e., not cost more than if there had been no waiver. States predict what their costs in Medicaid would have been if there was no waiver and compare those to estimates of Medicaid costs if there IS a waiver. The difference is the estimated waiver savings. These savings come…

Waiver Update: Where does it Stand?
It’s anyone’s guess what the election results mean for Texas’ 1115 waiver renewal. Just prior to the election, Commissioner Smith gave updates to THOT as well as the Executive Waiver Committee on HHSC/CMS waiver talks. Here’s where things were as of November 7th: CMS intends to decrease UC and DSRIP pool amounts in a waiver…

NIH Grant Supports New Drug Trials for Lung Injury and Disease
Lung Therapeutics, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company that targets niche orphan drug indications for lung injury and disease with an emphasis on fibrosis. The company was founded in 2012 with initial support by the University of Texas Horizon Fund by Dr. Steven Idell (Sr. VP of Research & Graduate Studies and Dean of the School…

Waiver Update
Following last month’s Newsletter reported waiver trifecta: UC report release; disallowance; and request for Texas to resubmit its 1115 waiver; this past month has been relatively calm. We do have some answers to some of the trifecta issues while HHSC is in preparation mode in advance of face to face waiver negotiation meetings with CMS…