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38 Document(s) [ Subject: Medically%20uninsured ]

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas | Child abuse | Child Protective Services | Computers and government | Contraceptives | Dental Examiners, Texas State Board of | Family planning | Foster care | Healthy Texas Women | Homelessness | Medicaid | Medicaid fraud | Medically uninsured | Mental health services | Mentally ill persons | Office of Inspector General, Health and Human Services Commission, Texas | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Substance abuse | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families | Welfare eligibility | Welfare reform | Welfare-to-work | Women's health |
Library Call Number: L1836.83 H349
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View report [58 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Review the Department of Family and Protective Services’ efforts to reduce child fatalities. Review the process by which the Department of Family and Protective Services collects and uses data to evaluate agency performance and improve outcomes for children in the Child Protective Services system. Make recommendations to ensure the process effectively uses data to strategically improve caseworker performance, and identify and improve upon deficiencies within the system and improve overall outcomes for children and reduce child fatalities.
2. Monitor the implementation of programs that were created or expanded by the 83rd Legislature to improve mental health and substance abuse services and assess these efforts' contribution to improved outcomes such as reduced recidivism in state hospitals, diversion from emergency rooms and county jails, and access to permanent supportive housing. Identify and address gaps in the current mental health and substance abuse system and make recommendations to better coordinate services across agencies and programs.
3. Build on previous legislative achievements in women's healthcare by examining women’s access to preventative health care, pregnancy services, and post-partum care, and exploring ways to expand access and improve quality, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state. Monitor the implementation of women's health programs in Texas. Assess these programs' impact on outcomes such as improving access to preventative services, reducing unplanned pregnancies, and achieving cost savings. Recommend ways to better coordinate the various programs in a manner that increases the number of women served, ensures adequate provider capacity statewide, and maximizes efficiencies to the state.
4. Identify cost-effective alternatives to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to better connect low income individuals to health care services through private market-based solutions, including Medicaid block grants and waivers. Recommendations should strive to encourage cost sharing, promote personal responsibility, reduce uncompensated care costs, contain increasing health care costs, improve access to care, address access to emergency department care issues in rural areas, promote the use of existing private coverage or employee sponsored coverage, reduce non-­?emergency use of emergency departments, and reduce the need for federal approval to the state Medicaid plan.
5. Evaluate the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program structure. Make recommendations to improve the program's operations and ensure the program achieves outcomes that allow TANF recipients to find employment and achieve self-sufficiency. Recommendations should seek to ensure Texas is using the most effective work-related requirements and drug testing protocols.
6. Evaluate the current state of prescription drug abuse and strategies for reducing prescription drug abuse in Texas. Make recommendations on how these policies can be improved or modified to enhance the State of Texas’ handling of services, treatments and education related to prescription drug abuse and to reduce the overall prevalence of prescription drug abuse.
7. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation, including but not limited to:
  • Monitor implementation of initiatives aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of Medicaid long-term care services and supports, including the redesign of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Monitor implementation of initiatives aimed at reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas Medicaid and other health and human services programs.
  • Dental Board Reforms: Monitor implementation of initiatives aimed at improving the State Board of Dental Examiners' ability to protect public safety, including strengthening the Board's authority and enforcement powers, improving the complaint review and resolution processes, and increasing staffing to improve the Board's ability to respond to complaints and potential fraudulent activity. Determine whether there are additional changes necessary to ensure that the Board is able to regulate the practice of dentistry and ensure public safety.
  • Cancer Prevention and Research Institute: Monitor implementation of initiatives aimed at restructuring the governance structure, eliminating conflicts of interest, and increasing transparency at the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
Committee: Senate State Affairs
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report to the 82nd Legislature
Subjects: Employees Retirement System of Texas | Financial investments | Fraud | Health care | Health care costs | Health insurance | Hospitals | Insurance agents | Insurance rates | Medically uninsured | Military personnel | Open government | Open Meetings Act, Texas | Public Information Act, Texas | Senior citizens | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Voter registration | Voters | Voting by mail | Voting systems | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number: L1836.81 ST29a
Session: 81st R.S. (2009)
Online version: View report [248 pages  File size: 24,817 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Upon passage of federal legislation relating to reform of the health care industry and health insurance industry, study the implications of such legislation on Texas, the health care industry, and public and private insurance. Study and monitor the implementation of the insurance regulatory changes, changes to high risk pool, and any other insurance mandates. Study the health care policy changes and the impact to the Medicaid and CHIP programs and the state budget. Assess the impact to all state uninsured and uncompensated care programs and county programs for the uninsured, including county property tax programs to pay for the uninsured. Make recommendations for the efficient implementation of programs. (Joint charge with Senate Health and Human Services Committee)
2. Monitor the actuarial and financial conditions of the pension and health care programs administered by the Teacher Retirement System and the Employees Retirement System. Assess the effectiveness of pilot programs designed to encourage the use of clinical integration, payments for good outcomes, use of best practices, focus on wellness and prevention, and bundling of costs for episodes of care, and other health care savings initiatives. Make recommendations for expanding the pilot programs for use across all private and state sponsored health care, including the Medicaid program, as a means to improve Texans' health and provide more effective care that allows for assistance for the uninsured. (SB 7, SB 8 and SB 10, 81st Legislature)
3. Study the implementation of the Healthy Texas program enacted by the 81st Legislature and the ongoing implementation of SB 1731, 80th Legislature, to determine if this program is effectively lowering health insurance costs and increasing access to health insurance for small business. Study and make recommendations about using this program to increase access to health insurance for sole proprietors. Review other states efforts to lower health care costs to small business owners and sole proprietors and incentivize small business owners and sole proprietors to purchase insurance.
4. Examine best practices for increasing the affordability and availability of health insurance in the individual and small group market, including medical underwriting practices, rescission of coverage, cancellation of coverage, rate regulation, and reporting of medical loss ratios.
5. Study how increased out-of-pocket costs for medications and treatment impact consumers' compliance with health care recommendations and how that response impacts overall health care costs. Review available research into value design programs.
6. Study ways to improve the efficiency and accuracy of voter registration rolls, including the feasibility and security of online registration and automatic registration and the accuracy of verification and purging of voters. Recommend ways to ensure that deceased or otherwise ineligible voters are not included on rolls while also ensuring that all eligible applicants are efficiently registered.
7. Study the transparency of organizational structures, policies and coverage associated with health insurance underwriters/agents and the relationship between underwriters/agents and policyholders.
8. Study the sale of annuities in Texas, particularly to seniors. Evaluate the requirements relating to rescission of an annuity contract, payment of surrender fees, return of money, contract forms, including a standard contract form, buyer's guide, agent's commission and disclosure of an agent's commission. Make recommendations for legislation, if needed, and consider whether the insurance commissioner by rule may limit an agent's commission.
9. Study the effect Texas hospital billing and collection practices have on the uninsured's and under-insured's access to hospital health care services, on the uninsured's and under­insured's economic circumstances, and on medical debt recorded as bad debt on hospital books and records. Assess whether hospital billing disparities involving pricing discounts between the uninsured and insured exist and make recommendations for any changes necessary.
10. Study the adequacy of workers' compensation benefits in the following categories: lifetime income benefits, wage benefits for the high wage earner, and workers whose wage benefits stop before Social Security benefits begin. In order to determine the impact of increased benefits in one or more of these categories, work with the Texas Department of Insurance to develop a publicly accessible model to predict the costs related to those enhanced benefits, the effect of those costs on workers' compensation premiums, and whether enrollment in the workers' compensation system will be adversely impacted by increasing the benefits in one or more of the stated categories.
11. Study whether subrogation claims by writers of workers' compensation policies should be limited or prohibited. Study the effect on workers' compensation premiums, if any, if subrogation claims by writers of workers' compensation policies are limited or prohibited. Consider the feasibility of developing a publicly accessible model to predict the impact on workers' compensation premiums, if any, if subrogation claims by writers of workers' compensation policies are limited or prohibited, while protecting confidentiality as required by law and study whether the impact on workers' compensation premiums, if any, would adversely impact enrollment in the workers' compensation system.
12. Study and make recommendations regarding access to voting by members of the military serving in the United States and abroad, including the feasibility of electronic delivery of ballots.
13. Study the Public Information Act and the Open Meetings Act to ensure that government continues to operate in a way that is open and transparent. The study should consider how advances in technology and the emergence of various forms of social media (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter) have affected communications by and within governmental bodies.
14. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs, 81 st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
Committee: Senate Health and Human Services
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report to the 81st Legislature
Subjects: Adoption | Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of | Asthma | Caseworkers | Child abuse prevention | Child Protective Services | Disease management | Disease preparedness | Disease prevention | Family and Protective Services, Texas Department of | Family Based Safety Services | Family preservation | Foster care | Health care providers | Health Enterprise Zones | Health insurance premium subsidies | Home health care services | Immunizations | Influenza | Medicaid | Medical errors | Medical reimbursements | Medically uninsured | Mental health services | Mentally disabled persons | Nursing homes | Obesity | Persons with disabilities | Preparation for Adult Living | Rural health care | Services for persons with disabilities | Smoking bans | State supported living centers | Stem cell research | Umbilical cord blood |
Library Call Number: L1836.80 H349
Session: 80th R.S. (2007)
Online version: View report [379 pages  File size: 16,580 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Monitor the Department of Aging and Disability Services' improvement plan for the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities, focusing on efforts to improve state schools and provide more community care options. Evaluate the process for preventing, reporting, and investigating abuse and neglect in state schools, ICF/MRs and the Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) program. Determine the short-term and long-term financial impact of increasing the number of individuals served in home or community locations and the financial impact this shift has on state schools. Monitor the department's efforts to convert institutions to community care providers through the money-follows-the-person program designed to improve access to community care services. Specifically make recommendations on:
  • how to further improve the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities;
  • preventing, reporting, and investigating abuse and neglect;
  • developing a transition plan for reducing waiting list for community care service;
  • incentives for converting institutions into community care providers; and
  • a long term plan to address issues that result from the current federal Department of Justice investigation.
2. Study and make recommendations related to creating an outcome-based reimbursement model in Texas' Medicaid program as a way to improve quality of care, reduce medical errors, and create cost savings. Develop a pilot health care program that pays for best practices, rather than only paying for actual procedures performed. Examine the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) efforts to create an outcome-based system in the Medicare payment system that sanctions serious, preventable medical errors. Examine Pennsylvania's efforts to implement a similar outcome-based reimbursement model to make providers more vigilant about patient care, encourage best practices, and reduce costs in their Medicaid program. If necessary, examine other health care coverage models that have successfully incorporated an outcome-based reimbursement system. Consider pay-for-performance, options that reward good outcomes and the use of best practices, and changes to the reimbursement system that will reduce serious preventable medical errors and hospital acquired infections.
3. Study the effectiveness of the Resiliency and Disease Management (RDM) program in the mental health service delivery system, implementation of changes to the crisis care program, and recommendations for appropriate use of the mental health transformation grant. Identify strategies to increase access to services and meet future demand for services. Examine resource allocation and opportunities to maximize funding. Policy recommendations should maximize the number of inpatient psychiatric acute care beds, enhance access to outpatient services, promote the use of recovery-based services, and enhance access to community-based services.
4. Monitor the implementation of the Department of Family and Protective Services’ improvement plan to reduce caseloads for Child Protective Service caseworkers, and to provide family-based safety services and ongoing substitute care services. Evaluate the efficiency of Child Protective Services "functional units," and determine if other organizational models would allow for a reduction in caseworkers' caseloads, without increasing other administrative costs. Develop recommendations aimed at lowering individual caseloads, making casework more efficient, and improving the retention of caseworkers. Assess the viability of caseworker reimbursement as a manner to lower caseworker turnover.
5. Monitor the implementation of the Department of Family and Protective Services' plan to stabilize the foster care system and increase permanency options for children. Study placement capacity to determine how Child Protective Services can better develop the necessary adoptions or foster homes to meet the needs of children and families by increasing foster care capacity, recruiting and retaining more foster and adoptive parents, increasing the use of relative care, and developing best practices for reducing foster care placement breakdowns. This includes studying innovative ways to promote adoption and kinship care in Texas and best practices for foster/adoptive parents to improve their ability to care for abused and neglected children. Explore potential improvements and enhancements in the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program to increase successful transitioning from foster care to adult living. Study current death review processes for children who die while in state care.
6. Examine Texas' current strategies for preventing child abuse. Specifically study the effectiveness of current programs and how these programs compare to other state efforts. Identify national research-based solutions, including best practices and programs addressing sexual abuse. Explore promising existing and emerging approaches to child abuse and neglect prevention, especially those with a strong evidence base. Identify additional funding sources for increased child abuse prevention activities by the state.
7. Study the changes in statute contained in SB 10, 80th R.S., as well as the state's current prevention and wellness efforts and chronic care management efforts, and identify opportunities for improvement in state policies and programs. Examine options for expanding and optimizing the state's current investment in wellness programs and management tools for individuals with chronic care conditions, including options that address childhood asthma. Review partnerships with the private sector that specifically address the following:
  • tobacco cessation, including the evaluation of a statewide smoking ban in public places;
  • reducing obesity;
  • availability and effectiveness of childhood and adult vaccines, including public education programs to promote the use of vaccines; and
  • more effective management of chronic care conditions.
8. Study the effectiveness and efficiency of nursing homes and home-based solutions/home care in Texas, and make recommendations to improve nursing homes and their funding. Identify and study successful nursing home funding models established by other states. Consider ways to fund infrastructure for nursing and therapists and home care. Examine the possibility of an incentive-based “pay for performance” rate plan for nursing facilities and consider factors that it could be based on, taking into account similar plans implemented in other states. Make recommendations on how best to use Medicaid to fund skilled nursing and home health care in Texas. Explore options for improving graduation rates for nurses in Texas.
9. Study and address ethical issues surrounding the impact of a pandemic influenza in this state, particularly focusing on the following:
  • the availability of human and material resources;
  • the benefits and burdens of mass vaccination plans;
  • the involvement of private sector professional organizations and businesses in the state's pandemic influenza preparedness and response plans; and
  • development and implementation of communication plans that will inform and prepare the public on risk reduction behaviors and local/state preparedness and response.
10. Study the potential for development of Health Enterprise Zones, which could offer tax incentives to medical providers who locate within the boundaries of designated medically underserved areas. Analyze similar legislation enacted in other states, specifically New Jersey, and estimate costs and benefits. Consider expanding incentives to medically related industries such as medical research facilities, laboratories and equipment manufacturers in order to spur economic development.
11. Monitor the collection and availability of cord blood stem cells for treatments and research in Texas. Review the current state of basic and clinical research using these and other types of adult stem cells. Assess the potential for clinical and economic benefits from current and increased adult stem cell research.
12. Review Medicaid provider reimbursement rate methodologies, including the impact of factors such as infrastructure concerns, federal minimum wage changes, and cost reports. Study the impact on access to care, quality of care, and value, and make recommendations for legislative changes, taking into account rate increases contained in the current budget. (Joint charge with Senate Finance Committee)
13. Study the state's current and long-range need for physicians, dentists, nurses, and other allied health and long-term care professionals. Make recommendations on how the state can help recruit high-need professions, especially for primary care providers and long-term care professionals in the underserved regions of Texas. (Joint charge with the Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade)
14. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Health and Human Services Committee, 80th R.S., and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, report on the implementation of SB 10, 80th R.S., to ensure meaningful improvement in access to quality care in the Texas Medicaid program, focusing on how to cover more uninsured in Texas with market-based plans or premium assistance for employer health plans, and monitor the creation of the Texas Cancer Research and Prevention Institute.
Committee: Senate State Affairs
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Eight-liners | Election fraud | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Entergy Corporation | Gambling | Health care costs | Health insurance | Health maintenance organizations | Insurance industry | Investment of public funds | Legislative intent | Medical research | Medically uninsured | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Mentally ill persons | Privatization | Public retirement systems | Statutory revision | Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation | Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool | Texas Lottery | Tort reform | Voter identification | Voting systems | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number: L1836.80 St29a
Session: 80th R.S. (2007)
Online version: View report [308 pages  File size: 43,740 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the factors that impact the transparency and efficiency of the health insurance market. Make recommendation to result in the use of best practices, lower health care costs, and better health outcomes, including the following:
  • Study factors contributing to the increasing cost of health care;
  • Study insurer and health maintenance organization (HMO) use of tiers, ratings, or classifications to differentiate among credentialed physicians already admitted to the insurer or HMO panel of preferred providers or network;
  • Examine methods to remediate incorrect tiering, ratings, or classifications;
  • Examine how physicians are notified of the standards against which they will be compared and whether they are notified of the standards prior to the evaluation period;
  • Improve transparency with respect to the marketing of prescription drugs; and
  • Study the use of certain nonprofit health corporations - approved under Chapter 162, Occupations Code, in Texas. Examine whether such entities operate on a statewide scale or on a limited scale, whether such entities adhere to the formalities required of corporations, whether the operation of such entities are influenced by owners or members who are not licensed to practice medicine, and whether such entities have ever been decertified or investigated for failure to maintain compliance with Texas law or regulations.
2. Study and make recommendations for reducing the number of uninsured Texans, focusing on the following:
  • Options to increase access to private health insurance, including 3 Share programs, employer sponsored plans and portable, individual insurance;
  • Incentives for encouraging counties and local governments to participate in private health insurance cost sharing for their respective residents;
  • Options to reduce health care premiums, including creation of special plans with increased deductibles and catastrophic coverage;
  • Implementation and possible expansion of health services districts;
  • Other state programs for increasing market-based coverage of the uninsured, including costs and effectiveness;
  • Options that will increase consumer choice and personal responsibility; and
  • Analysis of state and federal regulations that contribute to higher premium costs.
3. Study and make recommendations relating to the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool, including the current eligibility for coverage requirements, the economic profiles of participants and former participants, the affordability of the insurance products’ premiums and deductibles, and the public's awareness of the Pool.
4. Study the issue of security and accuracy in Texas elections. The study should include the benefits and risks of electronic voting technology, including the necessity of maintaining a paper record of each electronic vote. The study should also include an analysis of fraud in Texas elections, including prosecution rates for voter fraud, the processes for purging ineligible voters from voter lists, and the integrity of the mail-in and provisional ballot systems. Study the effectiveness of electronic voting technology and voter ID laws in other states. Monitor the implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, including the implementation of the Texas Election Administration Management system. Recommend statutory and regulatory changes designed to ensure that only eligible voters are allowed to vote in Texas elections and that each vote is accurately counted.
5. Review and make recommendations for requiring insurance coverage of routine medical care for patients with a life-threatening disease or condition who have elected to participate in a clinical trial.
6. Study the economic impact of recent civil justice reform legislation in Texas.
7. Study whether Texas should adopt the Restatement 2nd of Torts Sec. 674 (Wrongful use of Civil Proceedings) and whether a person should be allowed to recover court and attorneys fees when he has been forced to defend a lawsuit filed without probable cause or for intimidation purposes.
8. Monitor the Texas workers' compensation system, and the continued implementation of the reforms of HB 7, 79th R.S., by the Texas Department of Insurance and other state agencies. Specifically evaluate the recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court in Entergy v. Summers in terms of its impact and the impact of previous legislation on the workers' compensation system.
9. Study and make recommendations to reduce illegal gambling in Texas, including, but not limited to, the illegal use of Eight-Liners.
10. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of phasing in a defined-contribution pension for future employees versus the existing defined-benefit pension plan. Study options for transition or implementation issues and how the phase-in could be structured. Evaluate the possibility of requiring the state employee contribution rate to meet the annually required contribution for the statewide retirement funds each biennium in order to prevent unfunded liabilities.
11. Study the relationship between the public mental health system and the criminal justice and civil courts systems, including the identification and sharing of information regarding mentally ill offenders, including minors, among criminal justice and mental health agencies, the courts, state hospitals, and the Veterans Administration. Study how current confidentiality laws impact the exchange of information among groups described above. Study the sentencing of mentally ill offenders compared to non-mentally ill offenders, including minors, and the affect that has on statewide prison capacity and on the quality of health care provided to mentally ill offenders. (Joint charge with Senate Criminal Justice Committee)
12. Review and evaluate appropriate state regulation of a private operator of the state lottery should the state receive bids for a lease of the lottery that merit strong consideration. Provide recommendations for ensuring the security and integrity of the lottery and for adequate consumer protections. (Joint charge with Senate Finance Committee)
13. Study the feasibility and the advisability of establishing an investment policy that is consistent across all state trust funds, including the trust funds of the Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System, the Permanent University Fund, and the Permanent School Fund. Identify best investment policies for state trust funds. Examine recent portfolio diversification strategies and the effect they have on long-term fund performance. The recommendations should consider what is an acceptable rate of return, an acceptable degree of risk, the appropriateness of certain investments. (Joint charge with Senate Finance Committee)
14. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the State Affairs Committee, 80th R.S., and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. In particular, monitor and report on the effect of HB 2365, 80th R.S., which allows public entities to report "other post employment benefits" (OPEBs) on a statutory modified accrual basis, including any effect on auditor opinions, bond ratings, or other fiscal issues. Monitor the implementation of SB 1731, 80th R.S., relating to transparency of health information, and SB 1846, 80th R.S., relating to TRS.
Committee: Senate State Affairs
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report to the 79th Legislature
Subjects: Border health | Damage award caps | Election administration | Election laws | Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Health insurance | Liability insurance | Managed care | Medical liability insurance | Medically uninsured | Nursing homes | Patients' rights | Quality of care | Rural health care | State employee benefits | State mandated health insurance | Teacher health insurance | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Tort reform | Voter registration | Voting systems |
Library Call Number: L1836.78 St29a
Session: 78th R.S. (2003)
Online version: View report [0 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the implementation of changes made to the state group health insurance plans and identify additional cost-saving measures. Study the feasibility and practicality of offering health reimbursement accounts as an alternate health insurance plan for those insured in ERS, TRS, and university plans. Provide recommendations regarding whether the current method of administering these programs is in the best interest of the State of Texas and the various insured populations, or whether such programs might be more efficiently administered in another fashion.
2. Monitor the implementation of HB 1549, 78th R.S., the Federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, to assure that Texas meets the criteria to secure the proposed federal funding. Make recommendations for statutory changes required to implement federal legislation and improve the efficiency of the process.
3. Study the implementation of SB 10, 78th R.S., and SB 541, 78th R.S., and make recommendations, as needed, to make health insurance more accessible, and affordable for all Texans.
4. Study the April 2003 United States Supreme Court decision in Kentucky Association of Health Plans v. Miller to determine its impact on Texas laws regulating health insurance plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and make recommendations to changes in state law to conform with recent federal court decisions.
5. Study the reimbursement methodology of health care plans operating in Texas for out-of-network claims, specifically focusing upon the reimbursement of usual and customary charges, and make recommendations on how to improve their effectiveness. The study and recommendations should encompass all plans, including those participating in Texas Medicaid managed care program and should consider federal and state laws as well as Health & Human Services Commission rules relating to the reimbursement of out-of-network claims.
6. Study the implementation of HB 4, 78th R.S., and Proposition 12 in achieving lower medical malpractice rates and providing more access to affordable health care. Monitor and report on trends in medical malpractice insurance rates and the effect of tort reform on access to health care and provider shortages in certain regions, particularly along the Border.
7. Study and report on the affordability, reasonableness, and impact of mandatory liability insurance on the nursing home industry. Assess and report on the effects of the admissibility of quality reports.
Committee: Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Report to the 77th Legislature / Texas Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured.
Subjects: Health insurance | Indigent health care | Medically uninsured |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 un3
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [58 pages  File size: 1,652 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. The Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured was created by SCR 6, 76th R.S.. The task force was created to examine the problem of Texans who lack health insurance, to review demographic trends relating to the uninsured population and to examine other states' programs, laws, and systems which address the lack of affordable health coverage. The task force will develop a market-based improvement plan to ensure that Texans have access to affordable health care coverage and prepare recommendations for consideration by the 77th Legislature. The nine member task force includes three public members appointed by the governor, three senators appointed by the lt. governor, and three representatives appointed by the speaker. The chair was elected by the members.
Supporting documents
Committee: Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured
Title: Compilation of responses
Library Catalog Title: Compilation of responses to Blue Ribbon Task Force's Request for Information (RFI) : proposals to provide additional health insurance coverage options for Texans.
Library Call Number: L1836.76 un3ph
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Committee: Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsured
Title: Demographic profile of the Texas population without health insurance coverage
Library Catalog Title: Demographic profile of the Texas population without insurance coverage / prepared by Research Department, Division of Research, Planning and Program Evaluation, Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Texas Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Uninsu
Library Call Number: L1836.76 un3dp
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Committee: Joint Mandated Health Benefits, Interim
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Joint Interim Committee on Mandated Health BenefitsTexas House of Representatives interim report, 2000 : a report to the 77th Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Health care | Health insurance | Insurance industry | Medically uninsured | State mandates |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 h348b
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [109 pages  File size: 5,185 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. HB 1919, 76th R.S., charged the Committee to study and make recommendations on the following: the effect of mandated benefits on the cost and accessibility of health benefit coverages
2. the effect of mandated benefits on improving and maintaining the health of Texans
3. the number and percentage of residents making claims for the mandated benefits
4. the impact and feasibility of eliminating, revising, or providing alternatives to mandated benefits.
Committee: Senate Children's Health Insurance, Interim
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Report to the Seventy-Sixth Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Children's health care | Children's health insurance | Children's Health Insurance Program | Dental care | Medically uninsured |
Library Call Number: L1836.75 c438
Session: 75th R.S. (1997)
Online version: View report [202 pages  File size: 10,520 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the relationship between the provisions of the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 relating to children's health insurance and the Texas health care infrastructure. Provide oversight for the efforts of the state health and human services agencies to develop a state children's health insurance program.
2. Identify potential sources of funding that may be used as state match for federal grant funds through the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Committee: House Public Health
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: House Committee on Public Health, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1998: a report to the House of Representatives, 76th Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Children's health insurance | Food safety | Heart disease | Medically uninsured | Public health | Texas Healthy Kids Corporation |
Library Call Number: L1836.75 h349h
Session: 75th R.S. (1997)
Online version: View report [83 pages  File size: 3,554 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the effects of cardiovascular disease in Texas and assess the potential to reduce the health, social, and economic impacts through affirmative programs on prevention, care, and treatment.
2. Evaluate the educational and regulatory mechanisms currently in place to protect consumers from food-borne illnesses transmitted through the retail food distribution systems.
3. Monitor the implementation of HB 3, 75th R.S., (Texas Healthy Kids Corporation), and study the provisions of the federal Balanced Budget Act that relate to children's health.
Committee: Senate Economic Development
Title: Interim report - Medical savings accounts
Library Catalog Title: Interim report on medical savings accounts.
Subjects: Health insurance | Managed care | Medical savings accounts | Medically uninsured | Quality of care |
Library Call Number: L1836.74 m468
Session: 74th R.S. (1995)
Online version: View report [95 pages  File size: 4,336 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Study the potential benefits and liabilities of medical savings accounts as an additional health care option for individuals and employers.
Committee: Senate Juvenile Justice and Child Support, Interim
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Senate Interim Committee on Juvenile Justice and Child Support final report submitted to the 75th Legislature.
Subjects: At-risk youth | Attorney General Child Support Division | Child support | Children's health insurance | Criminal Justice Policy Council | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | Juvenile crime | Juvenile justice alternative education programs | Juvenile justice system | Medically uninsured | Progressive sanctions (Criminal justice) | Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas Department of | Public Safety, Texas Department of | School discipline | Services to Runaways and At-Risk Youth Program | Sex offenders | Texas Child Support Enforcement System | Traffic violations | Youth Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number: L1836.74 j988r
Session: 74th R.S. (1995)
Online version: View report [171 pages  File size: 7,838 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study whether the criminal offense of "Failure to Stop and Render Aid," which applies to adults, should apply to juveniles.
2. Study and make recommendations regarding the juvenile justice revisions made by the 74th Legislature, with a special focus on (a) implementation of progressive sanctions and related programming by local entities and (b) the expansion of the STARS (Services to At-Risk Youth) program by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, by the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill, HB 327, 74th R.S., and the Appropriations Act, HB 1, 74th R.S..
3. Study and make recommendations for any juvenile justice related issues that are identified as problems in the revisions of juvenile justice, including omissions and unintended consequences of the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill or related statutes and legislation.
4. Review analysis of the Criminal Justice Policy Council and other information required to be reported to the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, or the Legislative Budget Board by HB 327, 74th R.S., or related statutes and make recommendations from those reports as necessary.
5. Study and make recommendations regarding child support payments, specifically relating to the collection and distribution of child support as in SB 793, 74th R.S..
6. Study and determine whether the expansion of the Texas Youth Commission and local juvenile justice facilities is sufficient to go into the year 2002.
Committee: House Public Health
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: House Committee on Public Health, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1996 : a report to the House of Representatives, 75th Texas Legislature.
Subjects: Children's health care | Children's health insurance | Long-term care | Medical education | Medically uninsured | Nursing homes | Occupational licenses | Quality of care | Texas Healthy Kids Corporation |
Library Call Number: L1836.74 h349h
Session: 74th R.S. (1995)
Online version: View report [115 pages  File size: 5,368 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Review the benefits, costs and possibility of mandating a specific ratio of certified nurse aids to nursing home residents.
2. Review the ways in which medical schools use funds generated by their family practice programs.
3. Study whether public protection or public services could be enhanced by the registration or licensing of clinical laboratory scientists.
4. Study options to improve access to healthcare for children who do not qualify for expanded medicaid eligibility.
Committee: Joint Health Insurance Access, Interim
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Final report of the Joint Interim Committee on Health Insurance Access.
Subjects: Health insurance | Insurance rates | Medically uninsured |
Library Call Number: L1836.73 h349mr
Session: 73rd R.S. (1993)
Online version: View report [421 pages  File size: 27,782 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Investigate and evaluate the experience of other jurisdictions in which guaranteed issue of health benefit plans has been required.
2. Collect and evaluate data regarding the effect of guaranteed issue requirements on health insurance availability and accessibility.
3. Collect and evaluate data regarding the effect of guaranteed issue requirements on health insurance rates.
Committee: House Insurance
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Committee on Insurance, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1992 : a report to the House of Representatives, 73rd Legislature.
Subjects: Age discrimination | Americans with Disabilities Act | Automobile insurance | Credit insurance | Dentists | Health insurance | Insurance industry | Insurance, Texas Department of | Medically uninsured | Office of Public Interest Counsel | Senior citizens | Texas Catastrophic Property Insurance Association | Uninsured motorists | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number: L1836.72 in7
Session: 72nd R.S. (1991)
Online version: View report [63 pages  File size: 2,598 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Carry out budget and oversight responsibilities for all agencies, boards, and commissions listed in Rule 3, Section 18. A. Monitor and oversee documentation of salary increases. B. Verify the number and status of outcomes and outputs as identified in the Appropriations Bill (HB 1, 72nd Legislature, 1st Called Session). C. Review agencies' existing performance standards and determine whether new standards are needed.
2. Monitor and coordinate with the Texas Health Policy Task Force as it relates to accessible and affordable health care insurance.
3. Study no-fault auto insurance.
4. Study the impact on current Texas insurance policies of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
5. Study supervision, conservation, and liquidation of insurers.
6. Study cancellation of personal auto insurance of the elderly.
7. Study modifications of rate regulation in Texas concerning auto and fire allied lines.
8. Study establishment and regulation of dental referral plans.
9. Study credit life and credit accident and health regulation.
10. Review the operation of the Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association *
Supporting documents
Committee: Joint Health Care Reimbursement Alternatives, Commission on
Title: HCR 98, 70th Leg.
Library Call Number: HCR 98
Session: 70th R.S. (1987)
Online version: View document [2 pages  File size: 195 kb]
Committee: Joint Health Care Reimbursement Alternatives, Commission on
Title: Status Report
Library Call Number: LRL
Session: 70th R.S. (1987)
Online version: View document [3 pages]
Committee: House Insurance
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report of the Insurance Committee, Texas House of Representatives, 70th Legislature.
Subjects: Business taxes | Health insurance | Health maintenance organizations | Insurance rates | Insurance, Texas State Board of | Long-term care insurance | Medically uninsured | State mandates |
Library Call Number: L1836.70 in7
Session: 70th R.S. (1987)
Online version: View report [52 pages  File size: 1,307 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. To monitor all activities and have budget oversight responsibilities for those agencies, boards, and commissions as listed in Rule 3, Section 18.
2. To study the feasibility of long term catastrophic care insurance plans including nursing home care.
3. To study existing statutes mandating health insurance coverage for certain diseases, disabilities and care provided by certain health care professionals, and evaluate the scope of all mandated benefits.
4. To study the proliferation of self insurance plans and the impact of HB 61, 70th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, on the taxation of such plans.
5. To study the equity of the current insurance premium tax system and the feasibility of alternatives. (Joint study with Ways and Means Committee).
Committee: Senate Medicaid and Family Services, Select
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Report and recommendations / Select Committee on Medicaid and Family Services.
Subjects: Medicaid | Medicaid application process | Medicaid eligibility | Medically uninsured | Prenatal care |
Library Call Number: L1836.70 m469
Session: 70th R.S. (1987)
Online version: View report [51 pages  File size: 2,174 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Develop an immediate strategy to implement the opportunities created by new federal and state legislation. The Committee shall examine and evaluate the various options available to the state which will enhance the potential for expanded health and human services for needy Texans. At the same time, the Committee shall explore ways to attract the maximum amount of federal dollars to fund the cost of those programs. The Committee is charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor, the Legislature and the Board of the Department of Human Services in the following ares: 1. To determine what specific action should be taken or programs initiated during the current biennium which will allow the Department of Human Services to take advantage of current federal laws allowing expanded Medicaid benefits to eligible recipients through the use of matched federal funds. 2. To determine what action should be taken by the State of Texas during the current biennium with Congress or the Administration which might provide additional opportunities for the State of Texas to expand health and human services programs through the use of matched federal funds, and 3. To determine what specific legislative initiatives should be considered by the 71st Legislature consistent with the strategy of maximizing the use of federal funds to enhance the delivery of essential health and human services to needy Texans.
Committee: Senate Medicaid and Family Services, Select Subcommittee on Local Funds
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Local Funds Subcommittee report to the Select Committee on Medicaid and Family Services.
Subjects: Medicaid | Medicaid application process | Medicaid eligibility | Medically uninsured | Prenatal care |
Library Call Number: L1836.70 m469l
Session: 70th R.S. (1987)
Online version: View report [69 pages  File size: 2,709 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Develop an immediate strategy to implement the opportunities created by new federal and state legislation. The Committee shall examine and evaluate the various options available to the state which will enhance the potential for expanded health and human services for needy Texans. At the same time, the Committee shall explore ways to attract the maximum amount of federal dollars to fund the cost of those programs. The Committee is charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor, the Legislature and the Board of the Department of Human Services in the following ares: 1. To determine what specific action should be taken or programs initiated during the current biennium which will allow the Department of Human Services to take advantage of current federal laws allowing expanded Medicaid benefits to eligible recipients through the use of matched federal funds. 2. To determine what action should be taken by the State of Texas during the current biennium with Congress or the Administration which might provide additional opportunities for the State of Texas to expand health and human services programs through the use of matched federal funds, and 3. To determine what specific legislative initiatives should be considered by the 71st Legislature consistent with the strategy of maximizing the use of federal funds to enhance the delivery of essential health and human services to needy Texans.
Committee: House Health Care Services for Low-Income Texans, Special
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Interim report of the Special House Committee on Health Care Services for Low-income Texans.
Subjects: Indigent health care | Medically uninsured |
Library Call Number: L1836.69 h349l
Session: 69th R.S. (1985)
Online version: View report [79 pages  File size: 2,648 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. To monitor the implementation of legislation passed by the 69th Legislature to improve health care services to low-income Texans to insure that legislative intent is being followed, that proper coordination is being achieved, and that the results of the programs meet expectations.
2. The committee shall evaluate the programs to discover problems with administration and design and shall formulate suggested remedies for any problems.
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Task Force on Indigent Health Care final report.
Subjects: Indigent health care | Medically uninsured |
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View report [78 pages  File size: 4,287 kb]
Charge: This report should address the charge below.
1. Explore and collect information about needs and problems in the delivery of health care to indigents and develop proposed solutions to those problems. The Task Force is charged with presenting a package of findings and recommendations to the 69th Texas Legislature. This package should propose a pilot program approach to implement and test the Task Force's recommended methods of delivering health care to indigents. In the course of its work, the Task Force should address four subjects: who is at risk and what eligibility criteria should be applied to those individuals; the scope of services to be provided; administrative structure to operate a program; and methods of finance.
Supporting documents
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Access to health care
Library Catalog Title: Access to health care for the American people: updated special report
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hr
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Austin-Travis County medical assistance program
Library Catalog Title: The Austin-Travis County medical assistance program : report to the Task Force on Indigent Health Care, state of Texas.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2ha
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Brief of Amicus Curiae - Stephens v. Bowie County
Library Catalog Title: In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit : Robert Stephens, by his next friend, Vertie Stephens, and Ida Nelson, plaintiffs v. Bowie County, Texas defendants : on appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hb
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Interim report
Library Catalog Title: Health care for indigents.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2h
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: National and Texas health statistics
Library Catalog Title: National and Texas health statistics: staff report.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hn
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Preliminary data management plan
Library Catalog Title: Preliminary data management plan.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hd
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Public hospitals as safety net institutions
Library Catalog Title: Public hospitals as safety net institutions for the unemployed and uninsured.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hph
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Reports relating to medical indigency in Texas : preliminary studies
Library Catalog Title: Reports relating to medical indigency in Texas : preliminary studies.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hl 5/84
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: State and local law regarding responsibility
Library Catalog Title: State and local law regarding responsibility for health care for indigents.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hs
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Studies relating to medical indigency in Texas
Library Catalog Title: Studies relating to medical indigency in Texas : a preliminary report.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hl
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Survey findings
Library Catalog Title: Texas group health insurace plans and cost control measures: findings from survey of Texas employers and insurers
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hri
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Texas and national studies
Library Catalog Title: Texas and national studies related to health care for indigents.
Library Call Number: L1836.68 in2hns
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Members notebook, including committee roster, proposed calendar, proposed rules, public hearings and site visit schedule, financing related issues, data management status report, and survey timelines
Library Catalog Title: Minutes
Library Call Number: L1801.9 IN2H 68
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View document [27 pages]
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: List of archive materials
Library Catalog Title: Minutes
Library Call Number: L1801.9 IN2H 68
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View document [34 pages]
Committee: Joint Indigent Health Care, Task Force on
Title: Staff proposals and options, Hospital Responsibilities Workgroup
Library Catalog Title: Minutes
Library Call Number: L1801.9 IN2H 68
Session: 68th R.S. (1983)
Online version: View document [7 pages]

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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