Save the FDR Dime!

There is currently an effort in Congress to remove President Franklin D. Roosevelt from the dime. The March of Dimes strongly opposes this effort. The profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was placed on the dime in 1946 to memorialize his 4 term Presidency, his fight to find a vaccine to prevent polio, and the volunteer movement epitomized by the March of Dimes. The coin is symbolic of the struggle to end polio through the 'March of Dimes' campaign and the worldwide eradication of polio is expected in 2005. The FDR dime is a vehicle through which to explain what the volunteer spirit in America means, and it would be tragic to lose that. President and Mrs. Reagan are long time supporters of the March of Dimes and would like to find other ways of honoring his presidency and many public contributions. Mrs. Reagan has respectfully asked that the bill (H.R. 3633) be withdrawn. Please visit www.marchofdimes.com or simply click on the dime below to vote on-line as part of the USA Today poll regarding the issue. It only takes a moment.

March of Dimes Presents at National Birth Defects Prevention Network Annual Meeting

The March of Dimes presented on successful stakeholder strategy at the National Birth Defects Prevention Network’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah in January. The Texas Chapter was selected to present because of our success in advocating for full funding for the Texas Birth Registry, passage of legislation strengthening the language that establishes the Registry, and establishment of March of Dimes specialty license plates, proceeds of which benefit the Registry.

Recent Legislative/Regulatory Activity

• The March of Dimes submitted written testimony to the Texas Board of Health concerning rules that affect vaccine requirements on December 19th.
• The March of Dimes submitted suggestions to the Governor’s Workgroup on Medicaid concerning CHIP, Medicaid, and immunization on January 16th.
• The March of Dimes testified before the Health and Human Services transition team concerning reorganization of the new State Department of Health Services and its effect on the birth defects monitoring and newborn screening divisions on February 3rd.
• The March of Dimes submitted written testimony to the Texas Department of Health regarding proposed rules concerning ImmTrac (the state’s immunization registry) on February 18th.
  

Legislative Lookout

The Governor is expected to call a Special Session on public school finance reform in April. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst issued interim charges on January 21, 2004. "I carefully chose these specific interim charges because I believe they are important to the future of our state," Lt. Gov. Dewhurst said. "It is my intention that legislative proposals will be developed in response to these charges, which will make a positive impact on the daily lives of the people who live, work and raise families here in Texas." The March of Dimes will monitor the following committees and charges:

• Senate Finance Committee: Charge #1 - Monitor state agency implementation of House Bill 1 by reviewing key strategies, programs, and rider provisions; Specific Health and Human Services Charge - Monitor Implementation of Article II Reorganization - Monitor the budget elements of the Health and Human Services Commission reorganization; coordinate work with the Legislative Oversight Committee and the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services; Specific Health and Human Services Charge - Conduct Comprehensive Data Review of All Programs in Article II - Develop comprehensive tables of information on programs at each agency that convey historical information about method of finance, appropriations, program description, performance highlights, number of FTEs, and date of last audit in a manner that is conducive to the Legislature’s decision-making; Specific General Government, Regulatory, & Judiciary Charge - Revisit Rising Health Care Cost Study of the 77th Legislature - Review the cost study and determine which cost elements of the study have not been controlled and make recommendations to the 79th Legislature to address bringing them under control; examine the budget impact of policy decisions of the 78th Legislature and make recommendations for improvement.
• Senate Committee on Health and Human Services: Charge #1 - Study and make recommendations on structural reform, efficiency improvements, and cost savings in the state Medicaid and CHIP programs, with a goal of changing the method and delivery of service to reduce costs while providing the intended services; Charge #2 - Monitor implementation and make recommendations to improve HB 2292; include reviews of implementation of the preferred drug list and prior authorization and the new call center for determination of program and service eligibility; Charge #3 - Study and make recommendations on improving Texas’s county and local indigent health care system; consider whether the system should be regionalized to reflect usage and gain efficiencies, so that one or more counties are not paying for regional health care; Charge #4 - Monitor the implementation and make recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of legislation relating to the Board of Medical Examiners, legislation relating to childhood immunizations, legislation relating to the pilot front end Medicaid fraud reduction systems, federal developments related to TANF reauthorization and related programs, expansion and new construction of Federally Qualified Health Centers, federal developments related to prescription drugs in Medicare and the effect on Medicaid; monitor and report on the use of new federal Medicare funds allocated for Texas.
• Senate Committee on State Affairs: Charge #1 - Study the implementation of changes made to the state group health insurance plans and identify additional cost-saving measures; study the feasibility and practicality of offering health reimbursement accounts as an alternate health insurance plan for those insured in ERS, TRS, and university plans; provide recommendations regarding whether the current method of administering these programs is in the best interest of the State of Texas and the various insured populations, or whether such programs might be more efficiently administered in another fashion; Charge #3 - Study the implementation of SB 10 and SB 541, and make recommendations, as needed, to make health insurance more accessible, and affordable for all Texans; Charge #6 - Study the implementation of House Bill 4 and Proposition 12 in achieving lower medical malpractice rates and providing more access to affordable health care; monitor and report on trends in medical malpractice insurance rates and the effect of tort reform on access to health care and provider shortages in certain regions, particularly along the Border.

Join WalkAmerica!

Use your feet to give premature babies a hand! WalkAmerica is the first and most widely recognized walking event in the nation, generating over $90 million in 2003. All WalkAmerica net proceeds benefit March of Dimes and its mission to prevent birth defects and reduce infant mortality through research, education, community services and advocacy. WalkAmerica represents hope for healthy babies now and in the future. Visit www.walkamerica.org to register on-line or find a WalkAmerica site close to you. Help us give all babies a fighting chance – join today!

Dates to Remember:

March 9, 2004 - Primary Elections for legislative and other offices held
April 13, 2004 - Primary Run-Off Elections for legislative and other offices held
May 26, 2004 - State Public Affairs Committee meeting
August 25, 2004 - State Public Affairs Committee meeting
September 29, 2004 - State Public Affairs Committee meeting
November 2, 2004 - General Election for legislative and other offices held
November 8, 2004 - Prefiling of legislation for 79th Legislature begins
January 11, 2005 - 79th Legislature convenes
February 2005 - March of Dimes Lobby Day
March 11, 2005 - Bill Filing deadline
May 30, 2005 - 79th Legislature adjourns
June 19, 2005 - Governor’s Veto Proclamation deadline
August 29, 2005 - Effective date of bills without otherwise specified dates

For information concerning this newsletter, contact:
Jorey Berry
State Director of Public Affairs
March of Dimes, Texas Chapter
901 South Mopac, Suite 195
Austin, TX 78746
Jberry@marchofdimes.com