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.