By Wise                                               H.R. No. 1200
         76R17445 LHO-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 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 House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-1     Legislature hereby request the speaker of the house to provide for
 2-2     an interim house study to address the extension of access of
 2-3     regulated dental PPO benefits to all businesses without access to
 2-4     self-funded programs; and, be it further
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the speaker assign the study to a select or
 2-6     standing committee at his discretion, exercising the authority
 2-7     granted to the speaker by House Rule 1, Sections 16 and 17, and
 2-8     House Rule 4, Sections 57 through 60.