The value of primary care in Texas has long been overlooked. Thirty-two counties lack a primary care physician, 23.6% of adults are uninsured, and Texas leads the nation in rural hospital closures. To ensure Texans can lead their healthiest lives, Texas Primary Care Consortium has identified 2023 policy priorities for the upcoming 88th legislative session. Given the systemic and chronic nature of our state’s challenges, the consortium proposes a multi-sectorial framework of solutions for a positive and sustainable impact. The policy priorities fall into three areas: access to care, payment reform, and investment in primary care. Learn why improving the state’s primary care system is urgent and critical, and how policy changes can improve health across the state.

Learning Objectives:

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Speakers

Ankit Sanghavi, MPH, BDS, Executive Director, Texas Health Institute, Co-Lead, Texas Primary Care Consortium 

Ankit currently serves as the Executive Director of Texas Health Institute and Co-Lead of Texas Primary Care Consortium. Previously, he served as the Director of Community and Oral Health Program at THI. Ankit provides leadership and direction on all Texas Health Institute initiatives and develops collaborative efforts with its local, state, and national partners. Ankit earned a Master of Public Health from Texas A&M University in 2014 and Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences India in 2011. His professional interests are research, innovation, and data in public health and healthcare.

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Sue Bornstein, MD, MACP, Executive Director, Texas Medical Home Initiative, Co-Lead, Texas Primary Care Consortium

A resident of Dallas, Dr. Bornstein is the Executive Director of the Texas Medical Home Initiative and Co-Lead of the Texas Primary Care Consortium a statewide collaborative whose mission is to advance accessible, continuous and coordinated person-centered care for all Texans. Dr. Bornstein is the Chair-elect of the American College of Physicians (ACP) representing internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. The Board of Regents is the main policy-making body for the College. Dr. Bornstein is currently Chair of ACP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and previously served as Chair of ACP’s Health and Public Policy Committee and as Governor of the Texas Northern Chapter of ACP. She has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) since 2003 and a Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP) since 2022. These honorary designations recognize ongoing individual service and contributions to the practice of medicine.

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Larry D. Gonzales, MPA, CPM, President, Desk 138, LLC, Legislative Consultant, Texas Primary Care Consortium

The Honorable Larry Gonzales serves as Legislative Consultant for Texas Primary Care Consortium. He 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, Larry 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.

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This webinar is produced by the Texas Primary Care Consortium with support from Texas Academy of Family Physicians and TMF Health Quality Institute.

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