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. 1-61 * * * * *