The Ellis County Press: Midlothian man picked for governor’s committee

Midlothian man picked for governor’s committee
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Editor on 12/04/2003 00:00:00


_Purpose of appointment to curb health care expenses_
JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press
WAXAHACHIE - A Midlothian doctor has been appointed to Gov. Rick Perry's new
Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee, an 11-member body of physicians and
pharmacists charged with curbing the amount of money Texas spends on health
care.
Dr. Anthony Busti has lived in Midlothian for three years, and is currently a
professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Dallas.
He also serves as the program director for two residency programs at the Dallas
Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
'Ultimately, he'll be trying to save the State of Texas about one billion
dollars,' said County Judge Chad Adams. 'In discussing this with Dr. Busti, I
was very impressed with what he will be doing.'
Busti and the other committee members will choose new medications for Medicare
recipients, and at the same time, according to Perry, save money in the process.
Social service spending in the state currently eats a majority of the annual
budget each year, according to government estimates.
'There are a lot of things to consider,' Busti said. 'There are several thousand
medications. We will need to pick the most efficacious medicines while at the
same time saving the most money for the state.'
The committee will review bids from various pharmaceutical companies, as well as
investigate and negotiate rebate programs for the state.
Busti received his bachelor's degree from the University of the Incarnate Word
in San Antonio and then completed his Doctorate in Pharmacy at Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center where he graduated as Valedictorian.
He also attends the same church, Midlothian Bible Church, as Adams, who
nominated him to the committee applicant list.