THECB advisory committee forms subcommittees to review health‑related funding, eyes outpatient GME support and LBB briefing

Kristen Naes, committee chair and representative of Texas A&M Health Science Center, opened the Health‑Related Institutions Formula Advisory Committee meeting and announced formation of three working groups to study funding formulas for instructional and operational (I&O) support, graduate medical education (GME) and specialty program weights.

The committee said the groups will aim to produce recommendations to the full committee by December, with a progress update expected at the November meeting. Naes also asked members to submit data requests early to THECB staff member Melita so the coordinating board can gather and organize needed information.

Charge 1, led by Angelica Marin Hill, will review appropriate funding levels for I&O, infrastructure, research enhancement, GME and mission‑specific formulas and "review whether the GME formula should consider a difference between outpatient and inpatient," Naes said. Angelica Marin Hill explained the rationale: "the thought behind raising this for consideration ... on the revenue side, there are other sources of support for the time that residents spend in inpatient settings, less so for the outpatient ... And, the the objective really would be for additional support, not necessarily, you know, bifurcating, current GME formula support, if that helps."

Rick Lang (from El Paso) sought clarification on that charge’s scope, noting that "most GME programs ... have an inpatient and an outpatient component" and asking how the subgroup should treat those mixed programs when making recommendations. Committee members agreed Charge 1 would be the appropriate forum to invite the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to explain how the LBB evaluates funding requests and what information helps move an appropriations request forward.

Charge 2a, led by Miss Gomez Leon, will study I&O formula weights with attention to including graduate allied health and graduate nursing programs and specialty certificate programs for advanced practice providers; members named for that group include Courtney Smith, John Alford (University of Texas Dell Medical School) and Kemp Lewis. Charge 2b, led by Mike Tremontae, will study I&O formula weights with consideration of graduate behavioral health and optometry programs; Penny Harkey, Dr. Jonathan McClure and Michael Miller are listed as participants.

Committee members asked that subcommittees keep meetings small to enable detailed work while allowing any interested committee member to observe or provide feedback at the full‑committee meetings. Melita (Higher Education Coordinating Board staff) agreed to assemble a chart showing prior recommendations and what action was taken on them in past legislative cycles when asked by Rick Lang: "Not at all. We can do that." Naes reminded the groups to route data requests to Melita as early as possible.

The committee set its next meeting for 10 a.m. Nov. 5 as a virtual meeting and noted a tentative in‑person meeting on Dec. 3. If subcommittees can meet before November, members were asked to bring progress updates to the November meeting; the committee indicated it hopes to finalize recommendations by December but may add a January meeting if needed.

Votes at a glance: Kristen Naes made a motion that John Alford participate as a nonvoting member of the committee until the Higher Education Coordinating Board considers his nomination at its October meeting; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee also approved a motion to adopt the Sept. 5 meeting minutes by voice vote. No roll‑call tallies were recorded during the meeting.

The committee adjourned after setting the November meeting date; the next formal meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 10 a.m.