By:  Truan, Moncrief                                  S.C.R. No. 57
            Zaffirini
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, In its report to the 74th Texas Legislature, the
    1-2  Senate Health and Human Services Committee concluded that
    1-3  significant benefits would accrue if a Medicaid managed care
    1-4  program were established statewide; however, the committee also
    1-5  found that special provision must be made for Federally Qualified
    1-6  Health Centers in any managed care system; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers are
    1-8  not-for-profit or public entities, including Community Health
    1-9  Centers, Migrant Health Centers, and Health Care for the Homeless
   1-10  Projects, that are important providers for Medicaid clients and the
   1-11  uninsured who may not be able to arrange care elsewhere, who desire
   1-12  culturally appropriate or bilingual services, or who want the
   1-13  convenience of receiving care in a neighborhood clinic; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, While providing a valuable service to this
   1-15  population, Federally Qualified Health Centers may nonetheless
   1-16  encounter difficulties when competing in a managed care environment
   1-17  because the cost of providing care to this population tends to be
   1-18  higher than for other groups and because these health centers have
   1-19  no reserves and no private patients to whom they can shift costs
   1-20  that exceed the capitated rate paid by the state; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers officials are
   1-22  concerned that their facilities would be excluded from provider
   1-23  networks under Medicaid managed care systems unless specific
   1-24  provisions require that they be included; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers also need time to
    2-2  develop more cost-effective methods of care so as to compete
    2-3  successfully in a system based on capitated rates rather than
    2-4  cost-based reimbursement; now, therefore, be it
    2-5        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
    2-6  hereby direct the State Medicaid Office to ensure that in no case
    2-7  shall a federal waiver application attempt to waive current
    2-8  requirements that services provided by Federally Qualified Health
    2-9  Centers are mandatory; and, be it further
   2-10        RESOLVED, That federal requirements stipulating that
   2-11  Federally Qualified Health Centers receive cost-based
   2-12  reimbursements not be waived for the first three years of any new
   2-13  waiver; and, be it further
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
   2-15  copy of this resolution to the State Medicaid Office.