1-1     By:  Harris                                            S.C.R. No. 6
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed January 15, 1999; January 27, 1999,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
 1-4     March 1, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
 1-5     Nays 0; March 1, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, Despite a healthy economy, the number of Americans
 1-8     without health insurance is at a decade high with an estimated 43
 1-9     million people, or 16 percent of the population, lacking health
1-10     insurance coverage; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Nearly one quarter of all Texans lack health
1-12     insurance, giving Texas the dubious distinction of having one of
1-13     the highest rates of uninsured in the country; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Demographic analysis of uninsured Texans reveals
1-15     that they are predominantly low-wage workers and their families;
1-16     and
1-17           WHEREAS, State welfare reform efforts have succeeded in
1-18     moving many Texans from welfare to work, but the long-term success
1-19     of reform is jeopardized because these workers earn enough to lose
1-20     their Medicaid eligibility yet do not earn enough to afford
1-21     traditional health insurance coverage; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Texans lacking health insurance cite the expense of
1-23     coverage as the primary reason for forgoing it, and those whose
1-24     health care needs go unaddressed are 50 to 70 percent more likely
1-25     to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been avoided had
1-26     medical attention been accessible to them; and
1-27           WHEREAS, The burden of providing health care to uninsured
1-28     Texans falls on county indigent health care programs, hospitals,
1-29     and individual physicians and costs taxpayers an estimated two to
1-30     four billion dollars per year; and
1-31           WHEREAS, This emerging health care crisis poses a threat to
1-32     our thriving economy, which in turn will negatively impact all
1-33     Texans, regardless of their own health coverage; and
1-34           WHEREAS, State policymakers are actively addressing the
1-35     issues of managed care and the health insurance needs of Texas
1-36     children and citizens requiring long-term care; addressing the
1-37     expansion of health insurance coverage to those lacking it will
1-38     promote the overall health of Texans, which in turn will protect
1-39     our strong economy; now, therefore, be it
1-40           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-41     hereby urge the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
1-42     the house of representatives to establish and provide resources,
1-43     including staffing, for a Blue Ribbon Task Force to conduct an
1-44     in-depth study of the uninsured issue; and, be it further
1-45           RESOLVED, That the task force be composed of nine members:
1-46     three members representing the public to be appointed by the
1-47     governor, three members of the senate to be appointed by the
1-48     lieutenant governor, and three members of the house of
1-49     representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house, with
1-50     the chair to be elected by the members; and, be it further
1-51           RESOLVED, That for the appointments, efforts be made to
1-52     include representatives from the business community, consumers,
1-53     insurers, academics, health care providers, and others with
1-54     expertise and interest in the Texas health care delivery system;
1-55     and, be it further
1-56           RESOLVED, That the proceedings and operations of the task
1-57     force be governed by such general rules and policies for joint
1-58     interim committees as the 76th Legislature may adopt and that such
1-59     rules and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to
1-60     the extent of any conflict.
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