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By:  Delisi                                                     H.C.R. No. 58 



HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, State Medicaid spending currently accounts for 
approximately twenty-two percent of total state spending; and
	WHEREAS, Under the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, 
the federal share of state Medicaid spending provided to the State 
of Texas has decreased by 4.2 percent over the past ten years; and
	WHEREAS, Average monthly Medicaid caseloads in the State of 
Texas are projected to increase to 2,885,583 by fiscal year 2005 
from 2,376,193 in fiscal year 2003; and
	WHEREAS, Prescription drug costs are a major factor driving 
Medicaid expenditures, and annual Medicaid prescription levels in 
the State of Texas are projected to rise to 40,257,515 by fiscal 
year 2005, from 33,859,094 in fiscal year 2003; and
	WHEREAS, The Congressional Budget Office projects that 
Medicaid spending under the current system will more than double by 
the year 2012; and
	WHEREAS, The growth in federal spending of the Medicaid and 
welfare entitlements are astronomical and spiraling, significantly 
increasing the federal budget costs; and
	WHEREAS, This growth will never be controlled unless the 
State of Texas has autonomous management of the program, free from 
Federal mandates regarding individual entitlement, eligibility 
groups, benefits, payment rates, and financing structures to allow 
most citizens of the State of Texas to benefit from the Medicaid and 
welfare programs; and
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas will be able to design and develop 
innovative, efficient and productive medical assistance programs 
that will meet the needs of the residents within the State of 
Texas's budget capacity; and
	WHEREAS, In the State of Texas, there exists the possibility 
to improve patient outcomes and cost effectiveness with a statewide 
implementation of consumer directed care under the state medical 
assistance program; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to enact 
the appropriate legislation to pass federal funds on to States via 
block grants to be used for public welfare and Medicaid purposes; 
and be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the 
speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the 
senate of the United States Congress, the secretary of the United 
States Department of Health and Human Services and all the members 
of the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this 
resolution be officially entered into the Congressional Record of 
the United States of America.