Sen. Rodríguez honored as “Legislator of the Year” by Texas Nurse Practitioners
El Paso – State Sen. José Rodríguez will receive the Senate “Legislator of the Year” Awardtomorrow (Friday, Sept. 25, 2015) at the Texas Nurse Practitioners’ 27th Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Every biennium, TNP recognizes one State Senator and one State Representative who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the health care arena and dedication to supporting the professional practice of nurse practitioners across Texas. Sen. Rodríguez, who represents Texas Senate District 29, will receive this distinction for his efforts to bring independent practice authority for advanced nurse practitioners in Texas.
“I am honored to receive recognition from those who are on the front lines of increasing access to high quality, affordable health care,” said Rodríguez. “Medically unnecessary regulations in Texas harm our patients and push our providers out of state. We simply cannot afford this continued drain on our resources.”
During the 84th Legislative Session, Sen. Rodríguez filed legislation permitting independent practice authority. S.B. 751 would have allowed nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training and education. In addition to these efforts, Senator Rodríguez supported the medical community on a number of issues related to health care regulatory reform and health care access. For example, he successfully sponsored a bill to close the gap in Medicaid and CHIP benefits for children exiting the juvenile justice system as well as legislation that allows victims of sexual assault to receive reimbursement for assault-related medical expenses. He also helped to secure $75.52 million in tuition revenue bonds for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
“Senator Rodríguez understands what it will take to open up health care access in Texas, and that nurse practitioners are a key part of the equation,” said Board President Michael Hazel. “It’s an honor to have him represent us in the Senate.”
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Chartered in 1989, Texas Nurse Practitioners is dedicated to improving patient access to quality health care. More than 14,000 nurse practitioners across Texas provide invaluable services, including performing physical examinations and evaluations, providing health education, treating common illnesses, and helping patients manage chronic illness.
José Rodríguez represents Texas Senate District 29, which includes the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio. He represents both urban and rural constituencies, and more than 350 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Senator Rodríguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Hispanic Caucus, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Education; Health and Human Services; Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; Nominations; and Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs.
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