Commissioner Rathgeber Appoints Advisory Committee

AUSTIN, Texas, July 25 -- The Texas Department of Insurance issued the following news release:

Commissioner of Insurance Julia Rathgeber has appointed a committee of health care professionals and consumers with experience in prior authorizations to advise her on the technical, operational, and practical aspects of developing the single standard prior authorization form for requesting prior authorization of prescription drug benefits. The Advisory Committee for the Standard Request Form for Prior Authorization of Prescription Drug Benefits was created by Senate Bill 644 (83rd Legislature).

"I would like to thank each of these professionals for agreeing to serve on this new advisory committee," Commissioner Rathgeber said. "The Texas Department of Insurance depends on the public service of individuals like these to fulfill its regulatory mission."

The appointees are as follows:

* Philip Anderson, DeSoto, Associate Pastor New Life Bible Fellowship

* Garry Brydges, Pearland, Chief Nurse Anesthetist for UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

* Royce Burruss, Mechanicsville, VA, Director of Pharmacy Clinical Service for Cardinal Health

* Kim Caldwell, McKinney, Director of Pharmacy Professional Affairs for Humana Pharmacy Solutions

* Michael Chiu, Irving, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

* Teresa Devine, Austin, Senior Health Policy Analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

* Deanna Duggan, Houston, Nurse Practitioner for Baylor College of Medicine

* Maureen Gallagher, Pflugerville, Owner and Pharmacist for Gallagher's Pharmacy

* Joy Gilbert, Frisco, Director of Client Operations for US Bioservices

* Kyle Grimslid, Austin, Pharmacy Manager for Walgreens

* Jay Gruhlkey, New Braunfels, Private Practice Family Physician for Lonestar Medical

* Brendan Hayes, Plano, Executive Director for Texas Central Hemophilia Association

* Scott Holtmyer, Beaumont, Director of Clinical Services for Script Care

* Heather Keizman, Houston, Project Coordinator for Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services

* Vaughn Kinosian, Denton, Vice President of Operations for ReCept Pharmacy

* Staci Kurmel, Bulverde, Pharmacist for Stonegate Pharmacy

* Kimberly Martin, San Antonio, Director of Special Projects for Epilepsy Foundation Central and South Texas

* Michael Mason, The Woodlands, Director of Managed Care Analytics for McKesson Specialty Health

* Bruce McAnally, McKinney, Chief Technical Officer for Paragon Health Care

* Melissa McCormick, Frisco, Pharmacist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

* Alison Mitchell, Houston, Nurse Practitioner for Houston Methodist Hospital System

* Rodolfo Molina, San Antonio, Physician Rheumatologist for Arthritis Associates

* Bernardine Patterson, Round Rock, Director of Pharmacy for Baylor Scott & White Healthcare

* Eddie Patton Jr., Pearland, Neurologist for Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

* Tommy Phillips, Rockwall, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy for Senderra Rx

* David Scaglione, Minneapolis, MN, Product Manager of Physician Connectivity for Prime Therapeutics

* Gary Sheppard, Houston, Owner and Physician for Southwest Memorial Physician Associates

* Ruth Smith, Amarillo, Clinical Pharmacist for MaxorPlus

* Joseph Vazhappilly, Coppell, Pharmacy Director for Molina Healthcare of Texas

* John Watson, Richardson, Director of Pharmacy with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

* Justin Weiss, Austin, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations for Superior Health Plan, a Centene Company

* Cheryl White, Sugar Land, Private Practitioner for Brazos Pain Consultants

For more information contact: MediaRelations@tdi.texas.gov

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