Senate Committee on Health and Human Services - 74th R.S. (1995)
Committee Members
Charges
- Monitor the development of federal waivers resulting from Medicaid and welfare reform legislation, SB 10 74th R.S., and HB 1863 74th R.S., to be submitted and negotiated with the federal Health Care Finance Administration.
- Monitor the implementation of the Medicaid health care delivery system created by SB 10 74th R.S., to ensure that the phase-in of the program is being carried out in a rapid but thorough manner.
- Review and assess Medicaid reform legislation and welfare reform, SB 10 74th R.S., and HB 1863 74th R.S., and make recommendations for state legislation, if necessary, regarding modifications needed to ensure a smooth transition to statewide managed health care for indigent patients and enacting the reformed welfare system.
- Establish a working group consisiting of Committee members, legislative staff, staff from the State Comptroller's Office, the Legislative Budget Office and other affected state agencies to monitor the activities in Congress regarding block grant funding and the impact these will have on Texas' health and human services related programs. Establish a mechanism for communicating these program impacts to the Congressional delegation.
- In the event that Federal block grant legislation is enacted which affects health and human services programs, the working group should evaluate the impact on welfare and Medicaid reform legislation, HB 1863 74th R.S., and SB 10 74th R.S., and determine the ability of the state to proceed with enacting both pieces of legislation and evaluate the need to modify either piece of legislation to conform to federal requirements.
- Study and make recommendations to improve immunization programs for children and identify the necessary steps required to limit access to tobacco and alcohol by children.
- Look into complaints included in the Austin American Statesman Jan 25 article regarding investigations of physical or mental abuse at our mental health and mental retardation institutions and look into the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and determine why the number of investigations has increased, while the number of complaints has remained relatively constant and the number of confirmed cases has declined.
- In the event that Federal block grant legislation is enacted which impacts health and human services programs, the working group should study and make recommendations on restructuring the methods used to prioritize funding in health and human services. The principal goal should be of directing more funding to programs that reduce dependence on public assistance programs.
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