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.