Preemption Analysis of Texas Laws Relating to the Privacy of Health ...

health care privacy and has given numerous presentations on HIPAA at national
and state seminars and conferences.
19. Helen Timbes – M.B.A., R.H.I.A., former Director of Clinical Information
Services and Institutional Privacy Officer, Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center School of Medicine. Ms. Timbes was responsible for coordinating a
system-wide effort to become HIPAA compliant.
20. Matthew T. Wall – Associate General Counsel, Texas Hospital Association.
Mr. Wall is co-author of a comprehensive HIPAA state preemption manual,
HIPAA Privacy: Navigating Texas & Federal Regulations.
The Task Force was chaired by Edna Ramón Butts, Special Assistant Attorney General. The
Task Force was assisted by the following OAG attorneys and staff:
1. Suzanna Basinger – Assistant Attorney General, General Counsel Division
2. Shelley Dahlberg – Assistant Attorney General, General Counsel Division (now
with General Litigation Division)
3. Denise Donnelly – Legislative Liaison, Intergovernmental Relations Division
4. Lesli Ginn – Law Clerk, Antitrust & Civil Medicaid Fraud Division
5. Kay Hastings – Assistant Attorney General, Open Records Division
6. William (Bill) Hill – Assistant Attorney General, Opinions Committee Division
7. Audrey Knight – Assistant Attorney General, General Counsel Division
8. Cynthia O’Keeffe – Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust & Civil Medicaid Fraud
Division
Because of the extensive number of state laws to be reviewed, the Task Force was divided into
five groups. Each group, which was led by an OAG attorney, was assigned specific statutes and
related rules to review. The composition of the groups and their assigned statutes are as follows:
Group 1:
Health & Safety Code
Bill Hill, Audrey Knight, and Denise Donnelly, OAG
Joan Bates, TDH
Helen Timbes, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Brenda Strama, Vinson & Elkins
Kenneth Gordon, Baker & McKenzie
Ron Lindsey, Public Member
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