R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Several hundred thousand working Texas families have 1-2 a household income that is above the Medicaid threshold yet is 1-3 inadequate to afford health insurance coverage for their children; 1-4 these families are trapped in the "gray area" between independence 1-5 and assistance; and 1-6 WHEREAS, "Gray area" families consequently lack access to 1-7 routine health care services, and their children lag behind the 1-8 state average in immunizations and well-care exams; often their 1-9 only avenue for health care is a hospital emergency room, with 1-10 little or nothing to pay for services; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1991, the Caring for Children Foundation of 1-12 Texas, Inc., was created as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to 1-13 specifically address the needs of medically underserved children, 1-14 the young Texans in "gray area" families; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Through enrollment in its Caring for Children 1-16 Program, the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas provides 1-17 eligible youth with access to outpatient, primary, and preventive 1-18 health care services and prescription drugs; and 1-19 WHEREAS, There is no enrollment fee for the Caring for 1-20 Children Program, and parents pay only a $5 co-payment for 1-21 prescriptions; this worthy program is funded entirely through 1-22 donations from committed individuals and like-minded groups and 1-23 organizations within the private sector; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Through the generosity of Blue Cross and Blue Shield 2-1 of Texas, Inc., all administrative and operational expenses of the 2-2 program are covered; all donations received by the Caring for 2-3 Children Program go directly and only to the enrollment of eligible 2-4 youngsters; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Thus far, more than 6,200 enrollments have been 2-6 provided through the program, giving more and more Texans access to 2-7 the health care services they need to lead healthier, longer lives; 2-8 and 2-9 WHEREAS, In light of its remarkable service to date, the 2-10 Caring for Children Program and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of 2-11 Texas, Inc., are most deserving of special legislative recognition 2-12 at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby commend all those associated with the Caring for 2-15 Children Foundation of Texas, Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield 2-16 of Texas, Inc., for their leadership in bringing help and renewed 2-17 hope to the "gray area" families of Texas; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Inc., and 2-20 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Inc., as an expression of high 2-21 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Madden Cuellar Moreno of El Paso Farabee Hodge _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 209 was adopted by the House on April 16, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House