Dallas (October 11, 1999) – Governor George W. Bush announced Friday the appointment of National Center for Policy Analysis President John C. Goodman as a member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured. Goodman is one of three private citizens to be appointed to the nine-member panel.
The task force was created by the Texas Legislature to examine the problem of Texans who lack health insurance, to review demographic trends relating to the uninsured population and to examine other state's programs, laws, and systems, which address the lack of affordable health coverage. In addition, the task force will develop a market-based improvement plan to ensure that Texans have access to affordable health care coverage and prepare recommendations for lawmakers to consider during the next regular session of the Legislature.
Dr. Goodman founded the NCPA in 1983 and has served as President since the center's inception. The Wall Street Journal called Dr. Goodman "the father of Medical Savings Accounts," and National Journal declared him "winner of the devolution derby" because his ideas on ways to transfer government back to the people have had a significant impact on Capitol Hill. He is the author of seven books, including Economics of Public Policy, a widely used college textbook, and Patient Power: Solving America's Health Care Crisis, a book that sold 300,000 copies and is credited with playing a pivotal role in the defeat of the Clinton administration's plan to overhaul the U.S. health care system.
Also serving on the task force as public members appointed by Gov. Bush will be Nancy Dickey, M.D., of College Station and Boone Powell, Jr. of Dallas. Dickey is the program director of the Family Residency of the Brazos Valley and a professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine. Powell is the president and chief executive officer of the Baylor Health Care System and Baylor University Medical Center.
The Senate members of the task force appointed by Lt. Gov. Perry are Sen. David Bernsen (Beaumont), Sen. Chris Harris (Arlington) and Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (El Paso).
The House members of the task force appointed by Speaker Laney are Rep. Bob Glaze (Gilmer), Rep. Garnet Coleman (Houston) and Rep. Craig Eiland (Galveston).