Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) spearheaded  meetings between Thomas Scully, Administrator for the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) for the United States Government and Texas State leaders today in Austin.    Brady and  Scully  met with Governor Rick Perry, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, State Representative Arlene Wohlgemuth, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, and State Senator Jane Nelson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, and Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Albert Hawkins.

 

The purpose of these meetings were to give Texas officials an opportunity to discuss first hand proposed legislative changes to Medicaid/Medicare as well as provide an opportunity for Texas leaders to talk about ways to address the rising Medicaid costs in Texas.   Both of these were important steps to addressing Texas Medicaid and health care issues. 

 

"Texas lawmakers are making tough choices this year when it comes to funding health service programs and balancing the state budget.  Everyone is committed to seeking innovate solutions to today's Medicaid and health care demands.  Today's meetings provided and opportunity for key Texas leaders to talk directly to Tom  about what Texas' Medicaid and Medicare challenges are and to discuss possible solutions and support his office can provide", said Brady. 

 

Brady is a member of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee which is charged with overseeing all tax relief measures including President Bush's economic stimulus plan, modernizing Medicare with prescription drug plan for seniors, reforming Social Security, reauthorizing the successful welfare reforms of five years ago, and creating free and fair trade laws with foreign countries. 
           
Tom Scully was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate in May 2001 as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As the CMS Administrator, Mr. Scully serves as CEO of the largest health insurance organization in the world. Along with Medicare and Medicaid, CMS is responsible for SCHIP and other National healthcare initiatives. CMS processes over one billion claims each year and it contracts with approximately one million providers.