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.