BILL ANALYSIS S.C.R. 59 By: Patterson, et al. (Berlanga) 05-04-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In its report to the 74th Texas Legislature, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee concluded there is a pressing need for an audit of the Medicaid program, that it may be in the best interest of the state if nursing homes were dually certified for Medicare and Medicaid, and that significant savings might accrue if certain state schools and hospitals were privatized. PURPOSE S.C.R. 59 requests that three studies be conducted. First, it directs the State Medicaid Office to develop a proposal for a program audit of the Medicaid program and to submit the proposal by March 1, 1995 (a deadline that has been met). Second, S.C.R. 59 directs the Medicaid Office to determine the feasibility of requiring some nursing homes that provide Medicaid services to be dually certified for Medicare and report its findings by May 15, 1995. Third, it asks the Council on Competitive Government to study the feasibility and ramifications of privatization of state schools for individuals with mental retardation and state hospitals for individuals with mental illness and report its findings to the 75th Legislature by December 1, 1996. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.C.R. 59 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a formal meeting on May 3, 1995. The resolution was left pending. S.C.R. 59 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May 4, 1995, as pending business. The resolution was reported favorably without amendment, and with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV, and 2 absent.