HBA-CCH H.C.R. 138 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 138 By: Wohlgemuth Public Health 3/20/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current federal law requires states to provide certain health care benefits through Medicaid to qualify for federal matching funds. Over the years, Medicaid has changed from a narrowly-defined basic medical assistance program into a conglomeration of agencies with a complex system of eligibility requirements. Medicaid appropriations now constitute almost one-quarter of Texas' biennial budget, yet many Texans remain without health insurance. Federal Medicaid requirements leave states with little flexibility to develop innovative methods of providing cost-effective health care services to individuals with low incomes or acute health care needs. In 1996, the United States Congress considered returning Medicaid funds to states as block grants. Providing Medicaid funds as a block grant would offer Texas the flexibility needed to provide better access to health care. H.C.R. 138 requests the U.S. Congress to provide Medicaid funds to Texas in the form of a block grant. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.C.R. 138 requests the United States Congress to provide Medicaid funds to Texas in the form of a block grant.