1-1  By:  Truan, Moncrief, Zaffirini                       S.C.R. No. 57
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed February 16, 1995; February 16, 1995,
    1-3  read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
    1-4  Services; March 16, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
    1-5  Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 16, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, In its report to the 74th Texas Legislature, the
    1-8  Senate Health and Human Services Committee concluded that
    1-9  significant benefits would accrue if a Medicaid managed care
   1-10  program were established statewide; however, the committee also
   1-11  found that special provision must be made for Federally Qualified
   1-12  Health Centers in any managed care system; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers are
   1-14  not-for-profit or public entities, including Community Health
   1-15  Centers, Migrant Health Centers, and Health Care for the Homeless
   1-16  Projects, that are important providers for Medicaid clients and the
   1-17  uninsured who may not be able to arrange care elsewhere, who desire
   1-18  culturally appropriate or bilingual services, or who want the
   1-19  convenience of receiving care in a neighborhood clinic; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, While providing a valuable service to this
   1-21  population, Federally Qualified Health Centers may nonetheless
   1-22  encounter difficulties when competing in a managed care environment
   1-23  because the cost of providing care to this population tends to be
   1-24  higher than for other groups and because these health centers have
   1-25  no reserves and no private patients to whom they can shift costs
   1-26  that exceed the capitated rate paid by the state; and
   1-27        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers officials are
   1-28  concerned that their facilities would be excluded from provider
   1-29  networks under Medicaid managed care systems unless specific
   1-30  provisions require that they be included; and
   1-31        WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers also need time to
   1-32  develop more cost-effective methods of care so as to compete
   1-33  successfully in a system based on capitated rates rather than
   1-34  cost-based reimbursement; now, therefore, be it
   1-35        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-36  hereby direct the State Medicaid Office to ensure that in no case
   1-37  shall a federal waiver application attempt to waive current
   1-38  requirements that services provided by Federally Qualified Health
   1-39  Centers are mandatory; and, be it further
   1-40        RESOLVED, That federal requirements stipulating that
   1-41  Federally Qualified Health Centers receive cost-based
   1-42  reimbursements not be waived for the first three years of any new
   1-43  waiver; and, be it further
   1-44        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
   1-45  copy of this resolution to the State Medicaid Office.
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