MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE (INTERIM)
Thursday, July 23, 1998
9:30 am
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, July 23, 1998
in 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 Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:40 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
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 administrative structure and procurement strategy for
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 State Medicaid Director, Linda Wertz,
who briefed the Committee regarding the administrative and
procurement approaches authorized under the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997. Ms. Wertz then responded to questions from
members. The Chair thanked the witness for her testimony and
dismissed her.
The Chair called the Commissioner of Health and Human
Services, Don Gilbert, and the Commissioner of Health,
William R. Archer, III, to brief the Committee on the
progress of the agencies' Phase II proposal. The
Commissioners responded to questions by Committee Members,
were thanked and dismissed.
The Chair recessed the Committee at 11:55 a.m.
The Chair reconvened the hearing at 1:00 p.m. at which time
public testimony was taken from the following persons:
Ms. Liz Newhouse, representing the Texas Respite Resource
Network
Ms. Robin Moore, representing the Texas Association of
Community Health Centers
Ms. Shirley Hutzler, representing the Texas Association
of Health Underwriters
Ms. Anne Dunkelberg, representing the Center for Public
Policy Priorities
Ms. Heather Greenwood, representing herself
Ms. Lisa McGiffert, representing Consumers Union
Dr. Stephen Schwartz, representing the Texas Dental
Association
Dr. Andy Sewell, representing the Texas Dental
Association
Dr. Beverly Zinzer, representing the Texas Dental
Association
Dr. Jerry Long, representing the Texas Dental Association
Ms. Susan Murphree, representing the Disability Policy
Consortium
Dr. Alma Golden, representing the Texas Medical
Association, the Texas Pediatric Society and the
Texas Academy of Family Physicians
Ms. DeAnn Friedholm, representing the Texas March of
Dimes and the CHIP Coalition
The following person submitted written testimony, but did not
provide oral testimony to the committee:
Ms. Dale Hahn, representing the Texas Dental Hygienists
Association
The Chair thanked all of the witnesses who provided oral
testimony.
The Chair made closing comments.
At 3:15 p.m., Senator Moncrief, the Chair, 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
____________________________________
Gina Martin, Clerk