By Harris S.C.R. No. 6 76R3350 LHO-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Despite a healthy economy, the number of Americans 1-2 without health insurance is at a decade high with an estimated 43 1-3 million people, or 16 percent of the population, lacking health 1-4 insurance coverage; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Nearly one quarter of all Texans lack health 1-6 insurance, giving Texas the dubious distinction of having one of 1-7 the highest rates of uninsured in the country; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Demographic analysis of uninsured Texans reveals 1-9 that they are predominantly low-wage workers and their families; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, State welfare reform efforts have succeeded in 1-12 moving many Texans from welfare to work, but the long-term success 1-13 of reform is jeopardized because these workers earn enough to lose 1-14 their Medicaid eligibility yet do not earn enough to afford 1-15 traditional health insurance coverage; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Texans lacking health insurance cite the expense of 1-17 coverage as the primary reason for forgoing it, and those whose 1-18 health care needs go unaddressed are 50 to 70 percent more likely 1-19 to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been avoided had 1-20 medical attention been accessible to them; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The burden of providing health care to uninsured 1-22 Texans falls on county indigent health care programs, hospitals, 1-23 and individual physicians and costs taxpayers an estimated two to 1-24 four billion dollars per year; and 2-1 WHEREAS, This emerging health care crisis poses a threat to 2-2 our thriving economy, which in turn will negatively impact all 2-3 Texans, regardless of their own health coverage; and 2-4 WHEREAS, State policymakers are actively addressing the 2-5 issues of managed care and the health insurance needs of Texas 2-6 children and citizens requiring long-term care; addressing the 2-7 expansion of health insurance coverage to those lacking it will 2-8 promote the overall health of Texans, which in turn will protect 2-9 our strong economy; now, therefore, be it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-11 hereby urge the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of 2-12 the house of representatives to establish and provide resources, 2-13 including staffing, for a Blue Ribbon Task Force to conduct an 2-14 in-depth study of the uninsured issue; and, be it further 2-15 RESOLVED, That the task force be composed of nine members: 2-16 three members representing the public to be appointed by the 2-17 governor, three members of the senate to be appointed by the 2-18 lieutenant governor, and three members of the house of 2-19 representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house, with 2-20 the chair to be elected by the members; and, be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That for the appointments, efforts be made to 2-22 include representatives from the business community, consumers, 2-23 insurers, academics, health care providers, and others with 2-24 expertise and interest in the Texas health care delivery system; 2-25 and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That the proceedings and operations of the task 2-27 force be governed by such general rules and policies for joint 3-1 interim committees as the 76th Legislature may adopt and that such 3-2 rules and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to 3-3 the extent of any conflict.