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. 1-47 * * * * *