Code Red

The Critical Condition of Health in Texas

2008

Noor Malik

The University of Texas School of Public Health

Dallas Campus

01.wav

House Bill 1630 Caption: Relating to the eligibility of certain

individuals for child health plan coverage or medical assistance on release from certain facilities or other settings

Author and Coauthor: Elliott Naishtat of Travis County and Marc Veasey of Tarrant County

Sponsor: Watson Companion Bill: Senate Bill 2031 by Watson Filed: 02/23/2009 Enrolled: 05/23/2009 Signed: 05/23/2009 Effective: 06/19/2009

02.wav

House Bill 1630 Original Intent

To allow for suspensions of individuals receiving child health coverage if they are placed, detained, or committed under Title 3, Family Code

To provide health coverage for an individual who is eligible until the end of 12 months, excluding any time which the person was suspended as provided by Section 62.1013

Addition of Section 32.0264, which suspends health coverage of a child that is placed, detained, or committed under Title 3, Family Code, and automatically reinstates coverage once the child is released from the facility

Bill was later amended to include suspension and reinstatement of health coverage for Medicaid and Child Health Program recipients, and to develop an understanding of suspension and reinstatement with the Texas Youth Commission

03.wav

House Bill 1630

Read for the first time March 3rd, 2009 Referred to House Human Services Committee Considered for public hearing April 2nd, 2009, heard same day, and left

pending in committee Reported favorably without amendments April 9th, 2009 Considered in Calendars April 29th, 2009 Placed on General State Calendar and amended May 2nd, 2009 Read third time and passed May 4th, 2009 Referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee May 6th, 2009 Reported favorably without amendments and recommended for local &

uncontested calendar May 13th, 2009 Laid before Senate and passed May 21st, 2009 Signed by House and Senate May 23rd, 2009 Signed by governor and effective immediately June 19th, 2009

House Bill 1630 Bill passed, perhaps because funding was not necessary for the bill

to succeed Witnesses for House Committee on Health Services included

interest groups such as Texans Care for Children and The Roman Catholic Bishops of Texas; healthcare groups including Texas Hospital Association and Children’s Hospital Association of Texas; mental health advocacy groups such as Mental Health America of Texas and The Arc of Texas; and institutional organizations such as Texas Criminal Justice Coalition and Tarrant County Juvenile Services

Witnesses for Senate Committee on Health and Human Services included interest groups such as Texas Catholic Conference; healthcare groups including Texas Medical Association and Texas Hospital Association; mental health advocacy groups such as National Alliance on Mental Health Illness, Texas and Mental Health America of Greater Dallas; and institutional organizations such as Texas Juvenile Probation Commission

House Bill 1630

Bill related to Code Red recommendations Policy Implications

House Bill 1630

Designated agencies: Department of Family and Protective Services

Fiscal implications Funding Outcome measurability?

House Bill 676 Caption: Relating to eligibility of the child

health plan Author: Craig Eiland of Chambers and

Galveston County and Norma Chavez of El Paso County

Sponsor: None Companion Bill: None Filed: 01/01/2009 Enrolled: N/A Signed: N/A Effective: N/A

House Bill 676

Original Intent to amend Section 1, Section 62.101b, the Health and Safety

Code, “so that a child who is younger than 19 years of age and whose net family income is at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level is eligible for health benefits under the program.” This increases eligibility from those at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level to those at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Read for the first time on February 18th, 2009 Referred to House Human Services Committee Scheduled for public hearing on March 19th, 2009 and

considered same day Left pending in House Human Services Committee

March 19th, 2009

House Bill 676

Bill may have failed due to lack of sponsors and costliness associated with implementation of the bill

Witnesses: Self represented individuals Healthcare associations, including Seton Family of Hospitals,

Texas Association of Health Plans, and Texas Academy of Family Physicians

Interest groups, including AARP, Texas PIRG, League of Women Voters in Texas, American Federation of Teachers, and Catholic Health Association of Texas

Code Red recommendations & policy implications

House Bill 676

Designated agency: Department of Family and Protective Services

Fiscal implications Funding Outcome

measurability?

House Bills 1630 and 676

Extension of health coverage to individuals in Texas?

Extension of SCHIP to children in Texas?

References

Brotzen, Frank. 2009. Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas. Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas. [Online.] http://www.coderedtexas.org/

No author. 2009. 81st Legislature Regular Session – Texas Legislature Online. Texas Legislature Online. [Online.] http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/