3/16/2020 TAHU Weekly News Updates from the Capitol...

TAHU Members, on Friday, Governor Greg Abbott held a news conference at the State Capitol to update the public on the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Texas, and what the state is doing to protect public health. The Governor also announced several new actions Texas is taking to mitigate the spread of the virus, including declaring a State of Disaster in all Texas counties. The Governor was joined by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd for the press conference.

By declaring a State of Disaster, a number of actions are triggered by the Governor, including:

• Authorizing the use of all available and necessary state government resources to help manage this situation.
• Activating the state emergency management plan and the State Operations Center to enhance the state’s planning and response capabilities.
• Giving TDEM the ability to reassign & fully utilize appropriate personnel where they are needed most.
• Providing the immediate ability to move resources around the state, including resources obtained through the Strategic National Stockpile.
• Empowering the Office of the Texas Attorney General (OAG) to pursue cases of price-gouging and ensure that offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

To protect the most vulnerable population, the Governor also directed state agencies to restrict visitations at certain facilities. This directive allows limited exceptions for situations like end-of-life visitations and requires all individuals to go through proper screening.  Agencies will be restricting visitation at the following facilities:

• Nursing homes
• State-supported living centers
• Hospitals
• Daycare facilities
• Prisons, jails, and juvenile justice facilities

Governor Abbott is also directing state agencies to take any action necessary to facilitate telemedicine. In addition, he is directing state agencies to provide flexible work and tele-work policies to employees to give them the ability to care for their families, while ensuring the state government continues function at full capacity and provide all necessary services.  The Governor reassured the public that stockpiling supplies is not necessary. The State has been working closely with grocers and retailers to ensure shelves are replenished and that Texans have access to the goods and supplies they need. 

Updates on testing capabilities were also announced during the press conference. Governor Abbott stated that Texas Public Health Labs now have the capacity to test over 270 people per day, with more private labs coming online every day. Additionally, the City of San Antonio has announced the opening of the first drive-through testing facility in Texas. This facility will serve first responders, healthcare workers, operators of critical infrastructure and key resources, and certain high-risk patients. Other major cities are working to implement drive-through testing sites that will be run and managed at the local level.

The Governor also reminded the public that the state has asked health insurers and health maintenance organizations operating in Texas to waive costs associated with testing and telemedicine visits for the coronavirus. Additionally, the Texas Department of Insurance is requesting that insurers report their actions related to consumer cost-sharing and access to services so that the department can ensure consumers are aware of their available benefits. 

Texans who suspect a case of price-gouging in connection to the potential coronavirus threat should file a consumer complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the OAG. Texans can also call the hotline at 1-800-621-0508.

Texas House of Representatives

Following Gov. Abbott’s declaration of disaster, Texas Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen said "out of an abundance of caution and effective immediately, the Texas House of Representatives is suspending all non-legislative gatherings in the House Chamber, House meeting rooms, and the John H. Reagan Building until further notice."

Texas Senate

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has instructed Senate committee chairs to postpone all planned hearings for a few weeks. "There is adequate time in the interim for the committees to complete their work. Lt. Gov. Patrick believes this step is the prudent thing to do at this time as Texas continues ongoing efforts to contain and mitigate the impact of COVID-19," per Patrick's spokesman

Texas Department of Insurance

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is postponing or creating online options for several upcoming meetings and events to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

March 26: Stakeholder meeting on SB 1264 data reporting
Status: There will be a webinar instead of an in-person meeting at 1 p.m. March 26 to get input on the collection of data to satisfy the reporting requirement in Senate Bill 1264.

March 30: Stakeholder meeting on potential 1332 State Innovation Waivers
Status: The meeting will be rescheduled. TDI will provide information soon on a new date and format.

April 9: TDI Compliance Conference
Status: The conference is canceled, and TDI will issue refunds to those who have registered. The agency is planning a series of webinars for continuing education credits at later dates.

State websites:
DSHS: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/
TDI: https://tdi.texas.gov/news/2020/coronavirus-updates.html 

Other Questions? Contact your TAHU Lobbyists at:

Mike Meroney                                                     
Shannon Meroney
512-499-8880 (office) 
512-731-6615 (Shannon’s mobile)
Shannon@MeroneyPublicAffairs.com
512-589-2531 (Mike’s mobile)
Mike@MeroneyPublicAffairs.com