By Wise                                              H.C.R. No. 299
         76R17298 LHO-F                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The number one impediment to seeking dental care,
 1-2     according to studies published by the American Dental Association,
 1-3     is cost; these same studies reveal an increase in consumer use of
 1-4     dental care when dental benefits coverage is increased; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, It is in the state's best interest to increase
 1-6     Texans' access to affordable, quality dental care, and as consumers
 1-7     demand greater access to dental providers, they also are seeking
 1-8     dental care plans that allow greater flexibility to select
 1-9     providers; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Medical health plans provide access to medical
1-11     preferred provider organizations (PPO) that allow consumers to seek
1-12     medical care from network and non-network providers, but only
1-13     dental care plans that are self-funded by employers are able to
1-14     access dental preferred provider organizations and typically only
1-15     large employers are able to provide dental care benefits through a
1-16     self-funded program; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Studies by the National Association of Dental Plans
1-18     and other national surveys show that dental PPO benefits cost less,
1-19     both in premiums and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the consumer,
1-20     than traditional indemnity benefits while providing better
1-21     benefits, but the majority of small to medium-sized businesses are
1-22     not financially able to self-fund dental care for their employees;
1-23     now, therefore, be it
1-24           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-1     hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
 2-2     of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the
 2-3     extension of access of regulated dental PPO benefits to all
 2-4     businesses without access to self-funded programs; and, be it
 2-5     further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be
 2-7     governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim
 2-8     committees as the 76th Legislature may adopt and that such rules
 2-9     and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to the
2-10     extent of any conflict; and, be it further
2-11           RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including
2-12     findings and recommendations, to the 77th Texas Legislature when it
2-13     convenes in January  2001.