Health Care Hero Awards

CHAT is honoring legislators across the state with the “Children’s Health Care Hero Award” for their outstanding contributions and support of children’s healthcare initiatives during the 87th legislative session. 

The award recognizes Texas leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to a high-quality and appropriately funded children’s healthcare system in Texas, and honors them for their outstanding contributions and support of children’s healthcare initiatives during the 87th legislative session. 

Honorees: 

Representative Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio)

• Awarded on November 4, 2021 for his outstanding contributions to and support of children’s healthcare initiatives
• Authored and worked to pass legislation that ensures children in Texas are able to keep their Medicaid eligibility and receive access to the health care each Texas child deserves
• Click here to view his press release

Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)

• Awarded on November 16, 2022 for her work as the senate sponsor of House Bill 133, which extends Medicaid coverage for moms  from two months to six months after childbirth
• Assisted in passing six-month continuous eligibility for children in Medicaid and The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of end-of-session bill negotiations
• Authored Senate Bill 809, which ensures transparency into COVID-19 federal funds provided to healthcare institutions
• Click here to view her press release
• Read her media coverage from KWHI-TV and The Colorado County Citizen

Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston)

• Awarded on November 22, 2021 for her championing House Bill 1616, which creates a voluntary, expedited pathway to licensure for qualified physicians who wish to practice in multiple states through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
• Bill created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s dramatic increase in the use and acceptance of telemedicine by both health care providers and patients and to ensure that Texans have access to qualified physicians throughout the country
• Advocated for most vulnerable children – victims of abuse and neglect and trafficking – throughout her career
• Click here to view her press release

Representative Toni Rose (D-Dallas)

• Awarded on December 16, 2021 for her steadfast work to ensure access to health care for new mothers, as well as for children in the foster care system and children with developmental disabilities
• Authored House Bill 133, which extends Medicaid healthcare benefits from two to six months for new mothers postpartum
• Joint authored House Bill 290, which eliminates repeated income checks that often cause eligible children to lose Medicaid coverage
• Click here to view her press release

Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin)

• Awarded on December 20, 2021 for her steadfast work to ensure that all Texans, particularly women and children, have access to quality healthcare
• Championed children’s hospitals through her work on the House Appropriations Committee and filed House Bill 326 to help keep healthcare workers safe
• Click here to view her press release

Representative Four Price (D-Amarillo)

• Awarded on May 26, 2022 for his outstanding contributions and support of children’s healthcare initiatives throughout his career
• Authored and passed into law significant legislation during the 87th regular legislative session regarding telemedicine and telehealth, House Bill 4, and the further strengthening of mental health parity through House Bill 2595
• Championed major children’s health care initiatives into law during prior sessions in support of his belief that access to quality healthcare is foundational to the quality of life of individual Texans and their communities
• Click here to view his press release