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.