Pubdate: Tue, 22 May 2007
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2007 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Janet Elliott
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

TRUST FUND FOR UNINSURED WINS TENTATIVE HOUSE OK

AUSTIN -- A bill that aims to reduce the number of uninsured by 
helping low-income families pay for private health coverage through 
their employers was tentatively passed by the House today.

Public Health Chairman Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, said 200,000 
families could eventually receive the coverage through a trust fund. 
The state is seeking a federal waiver that could bring in $1 billion 
to set up the fund.

"We will be able to supply family coverage for the first time in 
Texas," said Delisi.

The House also tentatively passed a bill revising child protective 
services. It would scale back privatization of foster care case 
management and would provider greater oversight of agencies that 
place children with foster families.

Both the Medicaid and foster care bills are expected to receive a 
final vote in the House today. They would then return to the Senate, 
which could agree with changes made by the House or ask for 
appointment of a conference committee.

Delisi said that 5.5 million Texans are uninsured, and two-thirds of 
those are employed but cannot afford private health insurance. Under 
the bill, a family of four earning $41,000 or less could qualify for 
the subsidized coverage.

Money for the trust fund would come from federal funds used to 
reimburse hospitals for indigent care. She said Texas does not get 
its full share of those funds because much of the care is done 
through county taxpayer-funded hospital districts, instead of the state.

"We spend the money, we just don't get any credit for it," she said.

Delisi said she believes the program will save the state money in the 
long run by steering families away from expensive emergency room 
care. Patients who do use the emergency room for non-emergencies 
could be assessed a fee.

Senate Bill 10 by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, also would 
establish pilot programs to offer Medicaid recipients positive 
incentives for healthy life-styles. For example, Delisi said, it 
might pay for weight control or smoking cessation programs.

Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, succeeded in amending the 
bill to allow Bexar County to set up a needle-exchange program to 
reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis among intravenous drug users, 
on a vote of 71-60.

Delisi had opposed a separate bill sponsored by McClendon to set up a 
statewide program, and refused to bring it up for a vote in her 
committee. Texas is the only state that doesn't have a needle-exchange program.

Senate Bill 758 would build on reforms passed in 2005, when the state 
appropriated money to hire many more child abuse investigators. As a 
result, more children have been removed from abusive situations but 
several have died in foster care.

House Human Services Chairman Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, said 
the state will spend $99 million to hire caseworkers and kinship 
workers to help keep children with their extended family, when 
possible. Twenty-five new facilitators will help keep families 
together and prevent the removal of children.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman