By Harris S.R. No. 136 75R5377 RNS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Senate Bill 10, 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1-2 1995, directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to 1-3 implement a managed care program for Texas Medicaid beneficiaries; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, Although Medicaid managed care offers certain 1-6 advantages over the traditional fee-for-service system, there is 1-7 widespread concern that managed care organizations may be tempted 1-8 to deny necessary services in an effort to operate within the 1-9 traditionally low reimbursement rates of the Texas Medicaid 1-10 program; moreover, this concern was echoed in an independent 1-11 evaluation of the LoneSTAR pilot programs, and the evaluators urged 1-12 the state to develop its own quality assurance program because 1-13 "relying on health plans to head this effort may not be sufficient 1-14 without a proactive role by the State"; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Senate Bill 601, 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1-16 1995, responded to these concerns by directing the commission to 1-17 provide support and information services to any person enrolled in 1-18 or applying for Medicaid coverage who experiences barriers to 1-19 receiving health care services; and 1-20 WHEREAS, To date, the commission has failed in its duty to 1-21 implement this directive of Senate Bill 601; any delay whatsoever 1-22 in implementing such basic protections is inexcusable and must be 1-23 remedied immediately; now, therefore, be it 1-24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 75th Texas Legislature 2-1 hereby direct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to 2-2 immediately take steps to provide support and information services 2-3 to persons enrolled in Medicaid managed care programs, pursuant to 2-4 the clear mandate of Senate Bill 601, 74th Legislature, Regular 2-5 Session, 1995; and, be it further 2-6 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-7 copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Texas Health and 2-8 Human Services Commission as an expression of the will of the Texas 2-9 Senate.