THE 2008 TIHCA CONFERENCE!

November 19-21, 2008

Renaissance Hotel at the Arboretum 

Overview

TIHCA held its fourth annual conference at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in Austin on November 19 through 21, 2008. 

Sponsors

Sessions:

Key Health Indicators for Texas

Camille D. Miller with Texas Health Institute will present key health indicators for Texas. Camille will share a vision for how Texas can accomplish access to healthcare for all Texans and implement prevention and wellness strategies to improve the health of Texans and their communities.

Health Education- The Burden of Chronic Disease in Texas

This session focuses on the burden of chronic diseases in Texas, and how we can do something about it.  Included is comprehensive tobacco prevention and control as a model for comprehensive chronic disease interventions, and applying principles learned to prevention of other chronic diseases.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Services

Mental disorders are not character flaws but are legitimate illnesses that respond to specific treatments, just as other health conditions respond to medical interventions.  Learn about an innovative intervention program which is proving successful in diverting non-violent mental health patients from county jail, state mental hospitals, and emergency rooms into more appropriate placements.  

Resources for Small Offices

This presentation will introduce participants to a variety of nutrition and health programs offered by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.  Special emphasis will be given to those programs that reach limited-resource audiences. 

Keynote: Access to Health

According to Dr. Sanchez, access to health is not the same as access to health care, and healthy lives do not happen in a vacuum.  Access to Health is the result of a healthy environment, healthy behaviors, and a medical home. Dr. Sanchez will share what he believes to be the most effective ways to assure healthier outcomes through a process of prevention, wellness, education, nutrition, and access to a medical home.

State Office Update

Learn about the current state of indigent health care and how saving money is more than just good eligibility and claims management.

Preventable Hospitalization Data

Using data to identify health care access issues, and to assist in developing strategies to improve health care and reduce costs.

Panel: Keeping Your Board Informed

Tim Brown will facilitate this panel of representatives from three diverse Texas counties to provide governing body insight on what they expect of their respective local indigent health care programs in regard to administration of the program and in communication back to the governing body. Tim Brown represents a Central Texas small (but growing) urban county perspective; Jerry Garza, a Texas border urban county; and Dick Roan, a North Central area smaller county with a hospital district.

Eligibility Intensives

During this session you will discuss eligibility issues, different means of verifying information, and other options and referrals.

Bill Payment Intensives

This interactive session addresses some of the challenges and key issues facing CIHCP staff regarding aspects of bill payment.  Attendees will be provided an opportunity to test their program knowledge, share observations and experiences, and hear possible solutions for problem solving issues related to their role in the health care setting.

Best Practices: Spotlight on Williamson County

Chairman Kelly Curry has an interactive conversation with Williamson County staff on what makes their program successful

Provider Recruitment and Retention

This session will focus on efforts to improve physician participation in Medicaid, CHIP and indigent care programs as well as medicine’s 2009 legislative goals to improve coverage among the state’s 5.7 million uninsured. 

Creating Best Practices: Panel on Working with Community Partners

This session will highlight how to work within your community and the advantages of working with community partners, creating innovative Best Practices within the CIHCP program, education for clientele and the roles of FQHC’s, Local Health Departments, Charitable Clinics.