The New Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council
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Rural Conversations VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 1, 2012 INSIDE THIS The New Texas Rural Health and ISSUE: Economic Development Advisory Council Rural Health Care 2 Advisory Council to in food production and natural Judge John Thompson; Rural Communities– 3 resources. Improving rural Raymondville Mayor Orlando Jacksboro, Texas Improve Quality Of Life communities will benefit the state’s Correa; Uvalde City overall economy and quality of life.” Councilman Jay Carnes; Rural Grant Sources 4 and Health Care in Rural Childress City Manager Texas Rural 5 Texas— According to state law, Texas Bryan Tucker; Sul Ross Internship Program Lt. Governor David Dewhurst University Director of AUSTIN 11/30/2011 — In and House Speaker Joe Straus Nursing Education Program/ an effort to enhance the Southern Rural 5 have appointed State Senator Instructor Donna Kuenstler; quality of life in rural Texas, Development Craig Estes and State Advocacy and Communications Agriculture Commissioner Center Representative Chuck Hopson Director Don McBeath of the Todd Staples announced the respectively. Texas Organization of Rural SHSU - Community- 6 formation of a nine-member and Community Based Planning: Texas Rural Health and Hospitals; and Brady Crockett, Texas Economic Development Community Development Advisory Council. The Community 7 Director Kathi council is tasked with Development Masonheimer. Institute identifying rural policy priorities and reviewing The council’s Rural Rural Events 7 the effectiveness of Policy Plan will include existing rural programs. The council also is strategic initiatives for economic and community responsible for development; rural health developing a Rural Mason County Courthouse care improvements; and Policy Plan to be recommendations for the use submitted to the Texas “Addressing rural and allocation of Community Legislature on or “Addressing rural Texas Development Block Grant before Dec. 1, 2012. health needs requires strong Texas health funding, which is used to local leadership and encourage private investment needs requires "Rural Texas is a collaboration across multiple strong partner in stakeholders within rural in rural communities. strong local creating jobs, communities,” said Sen. Craig advancing technology Estes. The council will create a leadership and and improving health subcommittee called the Rural “I am honored to be a part of Health Task Force, which will collaboration care services and careers,” Commissioner this advisory council and look look for ways to expand and forward to working with this improve access to health care across multiple Staples said. “While only 12 percent of our group to do what is best for in rural areas, and offer stakeholders population calls the rural Texas,” said Rep. Chuck recommendations for rural areas home, 100 Hopson. legislation and program within rural percent of Texans development or revision. In addition to Sen. Estes and enjoy the benefits that communities.” Rep. Hopson, the council is occur in these areas rich comprised of: Polk County PAGE 2 Rural Health Care Opportunities for including increased access health care improvements. to quality health care. Coordination It appears through the In November 2011, establishment of these two In June 2011 President Agriculture Commissioner councils at the federal and Barak Obama established Todd Staples announced the state level that there is the White House Rural formation of a nine-member significant activism for Council to address Texas Rural Health and rural health care. With the challenges in Rural Economic Development significant number of issues America. A key objective to Advisory Council. The that rural residents face help the Council perform its Texas Council’s Rural regarding access to and three core functions is to Policy Plan will include quality of health care, this focus on quality of life, strategic initiatives for rural action is well needed. Additionally, rural economic especially until well after the include: the State Office of development is closely tied to budget battle, as it is certain to Rural Health (SORH), Texas rural health care improvements. add cost to the Medicare Organization of Rural For every physician added to a program. Its certainty to pass is Community Hospitals rural community, approximately up in the air given the fiscal (TORCH), Texas Rural Health $1.5 million is added in annual sentiment of Congress. Association (TRHA), Texas total revenue and 23 jobs are H.R.3212 is also pending in a Association of Rural Health Fewer rural created annually. – Doug committee and passage seems Clinics (TARHC), Area Health McKalip White House senior unlikely. Because it adds cost Education Centers (AHECs), representatives policy advisor for rural affairs to the CAH program, the bill is universities including Texas in direct conflict to a growing A&M School of Rural Public will not only Recently in October two bills sentiment in Congress to limit Health and Texas Tech were filed in Congress that are the growth of the CAH University F. Marie Hall mean lesser of great interest to Texas rural program, as well as eliminate Institute for Rural and hospitals and other providers. the CAH designation of Community Health, the support for rural At the top of the list is Senate hospitals that are within 10 to National Rural Health Bill 1680 – the Craig Thomas 15 miles of another hospital. Association (NRHA), and the health care Rural Hospital and Provider Federal Office of Rural Health Equity Act of 2011 filed by To exacerbate this situation, Policy. legislation but U.S. Senator Kent Conrad of Texas’ political redistricting North Dakota. Another bill will intensify the struggle to These entities should be, if not also more recently filed is H.R.3212 – improve rural health care already, engaged and the Critical Access Hospitals collaborating with each other, difficulty in quality and access in the state. (CAH) Designation Waiver Fewer rural representatives will with other health entities, with overcoming Authority Act of 2011 by U.S. not only mean lesser support the public, and with policy Representative Mac for rural health care legislation makers to ensure rural health threats to rural Thornberry from Texas. but also more difficulty in care issues are being made For information on these bills overcoming threats to rural apparent and emphasizing the health care see the Texas Rural Health health care policy. current seriousness and future Association Newsletter. consequences of not addressing policy. While individual engagement rural health care policy. The future of these bills and in the process of educating our Collaboration on this scale is of rural health care in Texas elected officials can be very an impressive force that in looks grim, however. powerful, there are numerous coordination with the newly S.B.1680 has been assigned to agencies, organizations and established councils has the a committee but has not programs currently engaged potential to have positive moved. This bill will probably and tuned into rural health care impacts for rural health care in remain on hold for some time, policy conversations. These Texas. RURAL CONVERSATIONS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 PAGE 3 Rural Communities - Jacksboro, Texas Communication & Cooperation high school drop out rate?” The Local entrepreneur and owner of company was also interested in PE Designs, Phyllis Maxey Joyce Howze—Grant Roundup land availability for new housing Elenburg said, “The EDC has really jumpstarted Jacksboro, Texas is setting everything. In my opinion the pace for rural we are really coming development, as local together.” leaders and stakeholders “A serious line of are committed to making Critical issues in Jacksboro a community community and communication that commands attention. economic development In efforts to enhance face almost every and cooperation business retention and rural community in expansion and improve among all the The New Depot in Jacksboro Texas. When folks with a quality of life for their citizens common goal and courage stakeholders must and visitors, Jacksboro leaders development. unite, great things can be established have developed a sound, forward happen. We need to take a -thinking strategic plan. Realizing something had to good look at communities and priorities change if Jacksboro was going to like Jacksboro that are “One person, no The impetus for attract industry, a few concerned addressing those issues. set.” this strategic plan citizens united and hammered matter how great came during a visit out a strategic plan. Getting a 4B a leader, cannot by a new industry sales tax started allowed the city considering a move to establish the Jacksboro change the way to town, and the Economic Development questions this things have been Corporation (JEDC) and hire company had for Lynda Pack as executive done. It takes community leaders. director. Through private In the past, such donations and JEDC funds in many people companies may place, an aggressive willing to wear have been attracted revitalization of downtown was to Jacksboro undertaken. Within a year, 50 many different because of tax new jobs were created. A school credits, abatements, hats.” bond passed public vote after the no-interest loans, second try. and the city’s ability to provide infrastructure. However, this new industry had a much different focus: the schools. Among the Don’t forget about the 2012 company’s questions Texas Rural Challenge! were, “What are your schools like?”, “What recreational facilities June 13 & 14, 2012 and activities do the schools offer?”,