By Moncrief, Zaffirini                                S.C.R. No. 58
       74R5152 RNS-D
                                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Senate Health and Human Services Committee, in
    1-2  its report to the 74th Texas Legislature, found that most Medicaid
    1-3  clients prefer home and community-based services rather than
    1-4  institutional care and that these alternatives to institutional
    1-5  care are less costly to the State of Texas; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Clients served in small Level 1 ICF-MR facilities
    1-7  function at a high level and could be placed in community-based
    1-8  settings if the necessary supports were made available; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Providing these necessary supports is consistent
   1-10  with the state's intention to emphasize community-based services
   1-11  over institutionalization and also should result in net savings to
   1-12  the state; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Home care services are similarly advantageous to
   1-14  Medicaid clients and to the state, but the current Medicaid home
   1-15  health benefit is limited and results in an inability to maximize
   1-16  appropriate use of this service; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, The Senate Health and Human Services Committee
   1-18  identified specific barriers to the use of cost-effective home care
   1-19  services, and in its report to the 74th Legislature recommended
   1-20  that the Texas Department of Health identify and remove such
   1-21  barriers; now, therefore, be it
   1-22        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-23  hereby direct the State Medicaid Office to take the necessary steps
   1-24  to move residents of small, Level 1 ICF-MR facilities to the Home
    2-1  and Community-based Services waiver program; and, be it further
    2-2        RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health identify and
    2-3  remove barriers to the use of cost-effective home care services,
    2-4  including but not limited to:
    2-5              (1)  the array of services available;
    2-6              (2)  arbitrary limits on number of visits allowed;
    2-7              (3)  the definition of "medically necessary";
    2-8              (4)  coverage of preventive services; and
    2-9              (5)  the interpretation of "homebound" for children;
   2-10  and, be it further
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
   2-12  copy of this resolution to the State Medicaid Office and to the
   2-13  Texas Department of Health.