MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE (INTERIM)
Thursday, May 21, 1998
9:30 am
Capitol Extension E1.030
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Children's
Health Insurance (Interim) was held on Thursday, May 21, 1998
in Capitol Extension E1.030, at Austin, Texas.
Note: The public hearing was a joint hearing of the Senate
Interim Committee on Children's Health Insurance, the House
Committee on Public Health and the House Committee on
Appropriations. The following reflects only information
relating to the Senate committee. Minutes for the House
committees will be provided by the respective committee
staffs.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chair None
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:45 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
The Chair made opening remarks, welcomed invited speakers,
state agency staff and the public. The Chair announced that
the purpose of the hearing was to obtain information relating
to the background and plans for the implementation of the
Texas Children's Health Insurance Program (hereafter CHIP)
authorized by the Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and
Title XXI of the Social Security Act.
The Chair then called on Senator Bill Ratliff who made brief
opening remarks regarding funding sources for the program.
The Chair introduced and welcomed Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
who was present for the hearing although not a member of the
Committee.
The Chair called the Legislative Budget Board staff, Ms.
Maureen McCormack, Mr. Trey Berndt, and Ms. Janice Ehlert, to
brief the Committee on the background of and facts related to
the CHIP program, and to review the decisions that will have
to be made in the development of the Phase II portion of a
Texas CHIP plan. The Legislative Budget Board staff responded
to questions by Committee Members. The Chair thanked and
dismissed the witnesses.
The Chair then called Ms. Rhonda Myron, representing the Texas
Department of Insurance, to make a presentation regarding the
current insurance marketplace in Texas, and the issues of
crowd-out and adverse selection as they relate to health
insurance coverage for children. Ms. Myron responded to
questions from the Committee Members. The Chair thanked and
dismissed the witness.
The Chair called Ms. Tyrette Hamilton, representing the Texas
Healthy Kids Corporation to make a presentation on the status
of the program authorized by House Bill 3, 75th Regular
Session. Accompanying Ms. Hamilton was Ms. Gwyn Shea, a
member of the Texas Healthy Kids Corporation Board. Ms.
Hamilton provided the Committee with a status report and
answered Members' questions. The Chair thanked and dismissed
the witnesses.
The Chair recessed the Committee at 12:15 p.m.
The Chair reconvened the hearing at 1:30 p.m. and introduced
the newly appointed Commissioner of Health & Human Services,
Mr. Don Gilbert.
The Chair called Ms. Linda Wertz, the Texas State Medicaid
Director, to make a presentation on the status of the 1115
Waiver authorized under Senate Bill 10, 74th Regular Session.
Ms. Wertz responded to questions by members. The Chair
thanked and dismissed the witness.
The Chair called Dr.William R. Archer, Texas Commissioner of
Health, to make present a CHIP proposal developed by the Texas
Department of Health. The Commissioner responded to
questions. The Chair thanked and dismissed the witness.
The Chair then called Mr. Jason Cooke, Texas Health & Human
Services Commission, and Mr. Randy Fritz, Texas Department of
Health, to discuss eligibility policy issues relating to CHIP.
The witnesses responded to Committee Members questions. The
Chair thanked and dismissed the witnesses.
The Chair called a panel to further discuss matters related to
eligibility policy. The panel members were:
David R. Page, Texas Association of Public and Not For
Profit Hospitals
Anne Dunkelberg, Center for Public Policy Priorities
Michael Blanchett, M.D., Texas Medical Association,
Texas Association of Family Physicians, and Texas
PediatricSociety
Bryan Sperry, Children's Hospital Association of Texas
The panel testified and responded to questions. The Chair
thanked and dismissed the panel.
The Chair made closing comments.
At 4:40 p.m., Senator Moncrief announced that the Committee
would stand recessed subject to call of the Chair. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Mike Moncrief, Chair
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Gina Martin, Clerk