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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to funding for and a study of county health care services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.094 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.094. MAXIMIZATION OF COUNTY INDIGENT HEALTH CARE |
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FUNDING. (a) If feasible and cost-effective, the commission shall |
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apply for a modification of or amendment to the waiver under Chapter |
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537 as necessary to more efficiently leverage the use of county |
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funds to maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid matching funds to |
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provide counties in the state with additional funding to provide |
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indigent health care under Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) In pursuing the waiver modification or amendment |
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required under this section, the commission shall: |
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(1) solicit broad-based input from interested |
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persons; and |
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(2) employ the use of intergovernmental transfers and |
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other procedures to maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid |
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matching funds. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall conduct a study of county expenditures on uncompensated |
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health care and investigate: |
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(1) the impact uncompensated health care costs have on |
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county budgets; |
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(2) local and innovative methods to reduce barriers in |
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health care delivery and increase access to health care; and |
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(3) the community benefit of health care services |
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provided under health care funding districts established under |
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Chapter 288, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2016, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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prepare and deliver a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of |
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each standing committee of the senate and house of representatives |
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having primary jurisdiction over matters relating to health and |
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human services. The report must contain: |
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(1) a summary of the study conducted under this |
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section; and |
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(2) the recommendations of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission based on the results of the study, including |
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recommendations of any legislation that is needed to implement the |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |