Greetings,
There are multiple pieces of legislation being discussed this week in Austin and actions needed to push for additional health legislation. DFC is calling on all members and partners to call, e-mail, sign letters, and/or provide testimony for all of the following. If you are interested in provided in-person testimony and are available to go to Austin please fill out our form below. Thank you for your commitment to protecting that health of #AllTexans.
Doctors for Change
[email protected]
Today
SB 1646: A last minute hearing was today scheduled to address SB1646, legislation that aims to categorize treating transgender and non-binary youth as “child abuse” and punish health care providers for providing evidence-based, compassionate care. As allies and health providers we are asking for your support and signature on our letter to be entered as official testimony to the State Affairs committee:
#QueerHealth #trans #queer #transhealth #queerhealth #txlege #transyouth #ProtectTransKids #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransKidsNeedUs #DFCTX
Wednesday
HB 1399: Hearing scheduled in House Public Health, this legislations would primarily target medical professionals’ liability insurance if they provide transition-related care.
HB 1424: Hearing scheduled in House Public Health, would allow any medical professional to object to any medical procedure that violates their “ethical, moral, or religious beliefs” even if the procedure in question is live-saving care. The hearing starts at 8:00 AM CST.
If you cannot make it in person here are other options:
- Send in a virtual testimony — if you cannot be at the Capitol in person, record a video.
- Send in written testimony — you will have to write separate testimony for each bill
- Call/email members of the House Public Health Committee and share your story
- Call/email members of the Senate State Affairs Committee and share your story
Access to Care and Expansion of Healthcare Coverage Actions
Last week the House held a press conference to present the bi-partisan House Legislative Health Care Package. This a great news but more work still needs to be done to expand health care coverage for all Texans. In addition to reaching out to your representatives in support of the bills in this package. Take the following action to support the Live Well Texas Bills HB 3871 and SB 117.
- Make a Video in Support of the Legislation: https://everytexan.soapboxx.us/prompt-single/LiveWellTX
- Call or E-mail your representative and use our suggested script:
Find contact information for your district here
Script: I am a Physician/Medical Student/other and believe that all Texans deserve access to quality healthcare. I am contacting you to ask that you support the Live Well Texas bills (HB 3871 by Rep. Julie Johnson and SB 117 by Sen. Nathan Johnson). The bills have recently gained bipartisan momentum in the Texas House, with a number of Republicans signing on. The bills utilize an 1115 waiver to extend healthcare coverage to over a million low-income adults while drawing down billions in federal dollars. As you know, Texas is one of 12 states where adults with jobs below the poverty line typically do not have any affordable health insurance options (except while they’re pregnant, when Medicaid insurance is available). Texas estimates show that expanding coverage would be cost neutral and, more likely, generate new revenue for our state budget. In addition to accessing the 90/10 federal-to-state match rate, these bills could also allow Texas to access another $3-6 billion offered in the U.S. Congress’ latest COVID-19 relief package. Please make Texas a better place for families to live and work by expanding health coverage. Please support HB 3871 / SB 117. Thank you for your time.
Personal calls and messages have high impact but if you are looking for an easier way to record your message you can use these forms and tools from #SICKOFITTX
Texas Office for Health Equity Actions
Call for a Vote
HB 4139: The House Public Health Committee recently heard public testimony on HB 4139, a bill that would restore the Center For Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities and renaming it the Office for Health Equity. This Office would work directly with communities, universities, and health institutions to tackle health disparities, including implementing data disaggregation. Given how COVID-19 has exacerbated existing health disparities in our communities, we need this office more than ever now. Please use This great Call To Action Toolkit to help identify committee members, call/email with our script, share graphics, and tweet with sample tweets provided by the Texas Quality Coalition: bit.ly/TXOfficeForHealthEquity