North Texas News

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Budget Committee Health Care Task Force, participated in the Ways and Means Committee field hearing in Denton, Texas, focusing on enhancing access to quality, affordable health care, especially emergency services in rural and underserved communities.

During the hearing, Congressman Burgess emphasized the pressing issue of a lack of physicians and emergency health providers in Texas, stressing the critical need to address the workforce shortage to guarantee timely access to emergency medical treatment. He also discussed his proposed legislation, the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act, aimed at lifting the ban on physician-owned hospitals. This bill aims to tackle access challenges in rural areas, encourage physicians to continue practicing, and expand healthcare options for patients in underserved areas.

In his opening remarks, Congressman Burgess expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the hearing and acknowledged the significant healthcare disparities in the country, particularly in areas like Texas where healthcare options vary widely. He highlighted the shortage of healthcare professionals as a major obstacle and emphasized the need to support the healthcare workforce through addressing issues such as government regulations, Medicare reimbursements, and physician burnout.

"Once again, thank you for having me. Thank you for our witnesses for being here and I look forward to the discussion," concluded Congressman Burgess.

The field hearing aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by communities with limited access to emergency medical care and explore potential solutions to ensure resilient and accessible healthcare services for all Americans.