SRC-VRA S.B. 866 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 866
By: Lindsay
Health & Human Services
3/19/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Recently, the Bush Administration announced a proposal to make significant
changes to the existing Medicaid program.  A key proposal made in an
effort to provide states more flexibility in the operation of the Medicaid
program is an option to receive federal funding in the form of a block
grant.  This option would fundamentally alter the manner in which Texas'
Medicaid program is financed and potentially administered.  There is a
need for the state to carefully deliberate and review all proposed changes
to the Medicaid program.  As proposed, S.B. 866 would create an interim
Medicaid planning commission to evaluate the federal reforms to the
Medicaid program to determine the effectiveness of the state's current
health care spending and impact on providing health care benefits to
uninsured, lowincome individuals.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  CREATION OF INTERIM PLANNING COMMISSION.  (a)  Provides that
the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan Program Interim Planning
Commission (commission) is composed of certain members appointed by the
governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives. 

(b)  Requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives to each appoint a co-presiding officer of the commission
from among the members of the commission.   

SECTION 2.  DUTIES.  (a)  Requires the commission to study the overall
effectiveness of the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan programs to
evaluate certain criteria. 

(b)  Requires the commission, in evaluating the option of a federal
Medicaid block grant, to perform certain tasks. 

SECTION 3.  FUNDING.  Requires amounts reasonably required by the
commission to perform its duties under this Act, as well as necessary
administrative support, to be provided cooperatively by the office of the
governor, the senate, and the house of representatives using existing
resources otherwise available to those entities. 

SECTION 4.  REPORT.  Requires the commission, not later than November 1,
2004, to deliver a report of its conclusions to the legislature, the
governor, and appropriate state agencies with oversight of the Medicaid
and State Child Health Plan programs.  Requires the report to include
certain recommendations. 

SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION.  Provides that the commission is abolished
September 1, 2005. 

 SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  Upon passage or September 1, 2003.