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.