1-1     By:  Berlanga (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)           H.C.R. No. 189

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1997;

 1-3     May 6, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 14, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 14, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, There are certain state health care programs funded

 1-8     by general revenue that could be improved with respect to their

 1-9     funding methods and scope of coverage; and

1-10           WHEREAS, A pooling and reinvestment of certain

1-11     diagnosis-specific program funds would enhance the use of available

1-12     state and federal resources; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Improving health care coverage for many children

1-14     would reduce administrative overhead; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The State of Texas would leverage additional federal

1-16     dollars presently available to the state by modifying current

1-17     funding methods; now, therefore, be it

1-18           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-19     hereby direct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to

1-20     develop a Section 1115(a) Medicaid waiver application, to be

1-21     submitted after the currently pending waiver application has been

1-22     approved, that sets forth a children's health insurance plan; and,

1-23     be it further

1-24           RESOLVED, That the proposed plan contain the following

1-25     features and safeguards:

1-26                 (1)  the plan must be revenue-neutral to the state;

1-27                 (2)  the plan should give priority for expansion

1-28     services to younger children;

1-29                 (3)  the plan should ensure safeguards in funding for

1-30     the Chronically Ill and Disabled Children's Services Program; and

1-31                 (4)  the commission should seek the approval of the

1-32     Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Budget Office before

1-33     submitting the new waiver application; and, be it further

1-34           RESOLVED, That, to the extent possible, the commission:

1-35                 (1)  develop a cost-sharing structure that allows

1-36     parents to pay part of a child's premium;

1-37                 (2)  develop a program that requires copayments;

1-38                 (3)  develop a program that serves only a specific

1-39     number of children, based on the amount of funding available;

1-40                 (4)  explore a simplified eligibility program and

1-41     design the  eligibility criteria to target uninsured children; and

1-42                 (5)  apply managed care design structure; and, be it

1-43     further

1-44           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

1-45     copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Health and Human

1-46     Services Commission.

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