John M. Zerwas

Infobox State Representative


honorific-prefix = Representative
name = John M. Zerwas
honorific-suffix = M.D.
state_house = Texas
state = Texas
district = 28th
term_start = 2006
preceded = Glenn Hegar
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Cynthia
residence = Richmond, Texas
alma mater = University of Houston
Baylor College of Medicine
occupation = Anesthesiologist
profession =
religion =
website = http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist28/zerwas.htm

John M. Zerwas is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was elected in 2006 to represent House District 28, which comprises Waller County, Wharton County, and a portion of Fort Bend County. He and his wife Cindy live in Richmond, TX.

Career

John Zerwas earned his doctorate in medicine from the Baylor College of Medicine after receiving his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston. Dr. Zerwas went into full-time practice of Anesthesiology when in 1985 he became a founding member of Great Houston Anesthesiology. He served as president of that clinical practice from 1996 to 2000. Under Dr. Zerwas' leadership, Greater Houston Anesthesiology became a "best practice" for successful integration of physicians and is now the second largest group medical practice in the United States. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_medical_practice] A member of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists since 1997, Dr. Zerwas served as president of the organization from 1996-1997. Since 2003 he has served as treasurer of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, where he has been a member since 1987. In May of 2003 Dr. Zerwas was appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. [http://www.memorialhermann.org/newsroom/052203.htm]

Committees

Zerwas was appointed by House Speaker Tom Craddick to serve on the Appropriations Committee, the House Administration Committee, and as Chairman of Budget and Oversight of the Land and Resource Committee. He was also appointed Vice Chair of the Select Committee for Services for Individuals Eligible for Intermediate Care Facility Services. [http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist28/zerwas.htm]

On September 20, 2007 Speaker Tom Craddick appointed Zerwas to the Medicaid Reform Legislative Oversight Committee, which was created by Senate Bill 10 during the Eightieth Texas Legislature. [http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/release.php?id=2196]

Significant Legislation

During the Eightieth Texas Legislature Representative Zerwas authored House Bill 1594 to amend the Texas Insurance Code. The bill expedites credentialing for physicians trying join an established medical group if that physician has a current contract with a managed care plan and ensures that their patients do not pay higher, out-of-network costs. [http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/hrodocs/ba80r/hb1594.pdf]

Representative Zerwas also co-authored House Bill 1287 with Representative Chisum, Representative Flynn, Representative Berman, and Representative Eissler. House Bill 1287 allows school districts in Texas to offer elective high school courses on the Bible's Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament. [http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1287] The bill requires the Texas State Board of Education to submit the proposed course content to the Attorney General to ensure that it complies with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.