MCALLEN -- State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa will receive Texas Medical Association's "Texas Medicine's Best legislator" award for his efforts to restore CHIP funding, improve childhood immunization rates and provide more accountability and transparency in contracts between physicians and health plans.

The award ceremony will be held in Austin on Friday, October 19th at the TMA Fall conference.

Senator Hinojosa spearheaded efforts during the 80th session to draft legislation that would require HMOs to provide more transparency in their contracts with physicians so that important changes in their insurance policies could be clearly understood. Senator Hinojosa was also a Senate co-sponsor of HB 109 which restored CHIP funding, so that 130,000 additional children could receive health benefits.

TMA President William W. Hinchey, MD, said that Senator Hinojosa was instrumental in improving health care for Texans.

"From helping children in dire need of health care, to improving Texas' overall wellness -- Senator Hinojosa has been a true champion," Hinchey said.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 42,000 physician and medical student members. TMA has 120 component county medical societies around the state and has been in existence since 1853.

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