Primary care impacts everyone and understanding the role policy plays within the healthcare system is essential. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and quality of care, this webinar will explore how lawmakers' emerging legislative priorities and political shifts may impact primary care. Join us for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the current landscape of how health policies affect primary care

2. Identify opportunities to help improve primary care through policy

3. Offer insights on how state and federal election outcomes will impact primary care

‍

‍Speakers

Helen Kent Davis
‍‍Senior Associate, Health Policy, Texas Health Institute

Helen Kent Davis is the founder and principal of HKD and Associates, a health care consultancy providing policy analysis and strategy to help clients promote more accessible, equitable, and cost-effective health care. Among the issues on which she has expertise are Medicaid and the state’s health care safety net, public and private health care coverage, primary care, rural health, and women’s, perinatal, and children’s health. Prior to founding her own firm, Kent Davis worked at the Texas Medical Association for more than 30 years, most recently as the associate vice president of governmental affairs. At TMA, she earned a trusted reputation for her expertise, savvy understanding of Texas’ policy-making process and ability to develop effective partnerships, working together to improve health care delivery and outcomes. Away from work, she loves spending time with her husband, son and two dogs as well as swimming at Barton Springs, gardening and traveling.

‍

‍Larry D. Gonzales, MPA, CPM
Legislative Consultant, Texas Primary Care Consortium‍

The Honorable Larry Gonzales served in the Texas Legislature from 2011-2018 and has been instrumental in helping national leaders craft public policy. Rep. Gonzales served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee three times, twice serving as Subcommittee Chairman appropriating funds for forty-two state agencies. Chairman Gonzales was twice appointed to serve on the budget conference committee, one of only five House members to write the final version of the 2016- 2017 and 2018-2019 state budgets. In 2017, he founded Desk 138, LLC, a public affairs and business development company specializing in issue advocacy and business strategic planning. Desk 138 works to cultivate partnerships and other commercial relationships, as well as identify new markets for products or services.

‍

‍Tom Banning
CEO & EVP, Texas Academy of Family Physicians
Webinar Facilitator

Tom Banning is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. In that capacity, he directs overall strategic and legislative strategy, grass roots, political action, continuing medical education, membership and communications activities for the largest specialty society in Texas, with more than 9,000 members. Tom has helped Texas family physicians realize the power of political involvement and grassroots that has resulted in the passage of key legislation including long sought, comprehensive tort reform, landmark patient protection and managed care laws, and numerous public health initiatives.

‍

This webinar is produced by the Texas Primary Care Consortium with support from Episcopal Health Foundation, St. David’s Foundation, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Association of Health Plans, TMF Health Quality Institute, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

‍