Health and Human Services Accomplishments of the 80

Health and Human Services Accomplishments of the 80 th Legislature State Representative Drew Darby House District 72

The Legislative Process • Texas Legislature meets biannually – 140 days each odd numbered year • 6, 198 Bills Filed by the Legislature – 4, 140 House Bills – 2, 058 Senate Bills – Less than 1/3 will become law • Just like making sausage

The Budget • • $153 billion for 2008 -09 biennium 7% increase from last biennium Funding for CHIP & Medicaid Increased Education funding Public Safety & Criminal Justice State Park funding Current & Future property tax reductions

Medicaid and Family Protective Services • Medicaid – $39. 8 billion in all funds, with $2. 3 billion increase, address: • • Increased caseload Fund acute care cost growth Reduce community care waiting lists Increase staffing at state schools • Fund rate restorations and increases • Department of Family & Protective Services – $34. 5 million for continued CPS reform • • Improved services for children & families at risk Reduce time children spend in foster care Improve quality & accountability of foster care Additional $65. 4 million in federal TANF funds

Revisions to Medicaid (SB 10) • Health and Human Services Commission will promote access to federally qualified rural health clinics • Will reduce the number of Texans who do not have health benefits • Reduces number of uninsured working for small businesses • Allows Medicaid Recipients to receive eye health care services • Allows for women to receive early screenings for breast and cervical cancer

Revisions to Medicaid (SB 10) • Lowering the cost of uncompensated care – State will help out hospitals through new trust fund dedicated to reducing uncompensated costs – Improvements to Medicaid include encouraging more responsible use of emergency rooms, pilot program to promote healthy behavior – Promoting of electronic health records to speed care, reduce costly medical mistakes – Authorizes co-pays for non-emergency visits to hospital emergency rooms, providing that there alternative health care options available

Revisions to Medicaid (SB 10) • Rewards Medicaid patients who complete smoking cessation, weight loss and other preventative health programs • Encourages Medicaid managed care plans to enroll patients in "value-added" preventative health services • Creates customized benefit plans that are tailored to a patient's individual health care needs • Allows individuals to voluntarily opt out of Medicaid in exchange for the state paying the employee's portion of premiums for employer-based coverage

Fast Facts on Medicaid & the Uninsured • Number of Texans covered by Medicaid: 3. 7 million; • Ratio of children covered: One in three • Total Medicaid costs annually: $17. 9 billion • More than half of those costs are associated with hospitals ($5. 8 billion), prescription drugs ($2. 4 billion), and nursing homes ($1. 8 billion) • Percentage of Texans without health insurance in 2004: 25 percent • Texas ranking among states on percentage of population uninsured in 2004: 1 st.

Children's Health Insurance Plan • Created in 1999 for low income families • 2003 budget cuts dramatically reduced enrollment • Changes made to the CHIP program: – – – Returning to 12 month enrollment period Families earning up to 200% of poverty Electronic eligibility verification for families over 185% Eliminated 90 day waiting period Eligibility based on net income Reinstates outreach programs

Cancer Research Funding HB 14/HJR 90 • HB 14, which will take effect if voters approve HJR 90 in November, will dissolve the Texas Cancer Council and transfer all duties to a new Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. THE INSTITUTE'S PURPOSE IS: • Create and expedite innovation in the area of cancer research enhancing the potential for a scientific breakthrough in the prevention and cure for cancer • Attract, create, and expand research capabilities of higher education institutions, such as Texas Tech University, to promote a substantial increase in cancer research and new jobs for Texans • Develop and implement the Texas Cancer Plan • HB 14/HJR 90 will make Texas a global leader in cancer research and prevention

August 9, 2007