HB 1039 Out Of Public Health Committee - But It Needs Your Voice

On Tuesday, April 30, the House Public Health Committee finally voted on HB 1039, a bill that would improve patient access to physical therapy in the state of Texas. The committee voted 6 - 3 to pass the bill favorably out of committee.

Now it is on its way to the Calendars Committee who are responsible for putting it on the House calendar for second and third reading. This must occur before it gets a vote on the House floor.

As exciting as this sounds - and it is - time is running out. This is where you, the consumer, can help decide the future of health care in the state of Texas.

The journey of HB 1039 this session brought it to a public hearing on April 10, 2013. At this time, 14 provided testimony in support of the bill (including myself) with 3 against the bill. The video can be viewed here (starts around 9:25 am) and here (starts around 12:45 pm). After about 2 hours of testimony, the public hearing for this bill concluded. It was left pending in committee, awaiting a vote, for the next 20 days. After being reported favorably out of committee, it was sent to the Calendars Committee on May 2, 2013.

The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every two years. All House bills must be passed out of the House by May 9. This leaves just a couple of days for the Calendars Committee to place the bill on the House calendar for a second and third reading.

It is a tight schedule. But it can be done. It will require the voices of many. And they will need to act now.

The members of the Calendars Committee are listed below. If you are one of their constituents, please contact them and ask them to put HB 1039 on the House calendar as soon as possible this week.

Rep. Todd Hunter (Chair)

Rep. Eddie Lucio III (Vice Chair)

Rep. Roberto R. Alonzo

Rep. Carol Alvarado

Rep. Dan Branch

Rep. Angie Chen Button

Rep. Byron Cook

Rep. Myra Crownover

Rep. Sarah Davis

Rep. John Frullo

Rep. Charlie Geren

Rep. Helen Giddings

Rep. John Kuempel

Rep. Doug Miller

Let your representative know the importance of the bill in providing patients with not only improved access to care but decreased cost of care as well. This is a bill with bipartisan support.

Now is the time for change in Texas. Your voice CAN make a difference. Let's get HB 1039 to the House floor so that ALL of the people of Texas and their legislators can decide.

It's your health care. Don't you deserve the right to choose?

Photo credits: abesselink

Related Articles By Allan Besselink

• HB 1039 Patient Access To Physical Therapy: Public Hearing On 4/10/13
• HB 1039 And SB 402 Improve Patient Access To Physical Therapy In Texas
• 2013: The Year Of Legislative Accountability