AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Health Care Policy will host the policy panel “The ObamaCare Exchange in Texas: Confronting the Questions” at the 12th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature on Friday January 10, at 9:45 a.m. at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol. 

“Among the disasters of the ObamaCare rollout to date, none has been more dramatic than the failure of the federal health insurance exchanges. Not only have uninsured Texans been unable to access coverage through the exchange because of technical problems, but the plans available on the exchange are unaffordable for many working Texans,” said Center for Health Care Policy analyst John Davidson, “The more we understand what the ObamaCare exchange is doing to the individual and small group insurance markets in Texas, the better we’ll be able to push for the repeal and replacement of the misguided federal law responsible for it.” 

Panelists include:

  • John Davidson (moderator) is a policy analyst with the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
  • Julia Rathgeber is the Texas Insurance Commissioner at the Texas Department of Insurance, and previously served as deputy chief of staff in the Office of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.
  • Michael A. Carvin is a partner at Jones Day and the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in Halbig v. Sebelius, which challenges the legality of tax subsides administered through health insurance exchanges created by the federal government.
  • Becky Parker is the Health Reform Director at MHBT, Inc., central Texas’ largest privately-held employee benefits specialization group, where she directs all corporate strategy and communication pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for MHBT and its clients. 

For twelve years, the Foundation’s Policy Orientation has been one of the nation’s top policy conferences, selling out each year while bringing together lawmakers, policy experts, and engaged citizens from across the political spectrum to discuss critical issues facing the Lone Star State and America. Last year’s Policy Orientation attracted approximately 1,100 attendees including 100 state legislators and hundreds of legislative staff from both sides of the aisle.

This year’s program includes more than 25 panel discussions and debates on the major issues affecting Texas’ future.  The program will be updated with additional events and speakers in the coming weeks. Members of the public and media who wish to attend may register and view the agenda here: http://bit.ly/TVGJeN.

John Davidson is a policy analyst for the Center for Health Care Policy with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin.

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