Senate Committee on Health and Human Services - 86th R.S. (2019)

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Committee Members

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Charges

• Health Care Costs: Examine the state health and human services finance system including, but not limited to, the following programs and methods of finance: Local Provider Participation Funds, the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program, Medicaid 1115 waivers and Section 1332 State Innovation waivers, Pay for Quality programs, the Quality Incentive Payment Program, and other state and local funding used to finance health care systems in Texas. Identify ways to streamline functions and reduce unnecessarily burdensome and costly requirements in the Texas Medicaid program. Provide recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the state's health and human services system and judicious use of taxpayer dollars.

• Heart Health: Analyze the prevalence and cost impact of heart disease to state health care programs. Provide recommendations to increase program collaboration and reduce the long-term costs associated with heart disease, stroke, and related risk factors. Identify and recommend ways to address the impact of heart disease on women's health.

• Public Health: Examine the emerging public health concerns from the rise in e-cigarette use and "vaping," especially among minors. Determine if additional policies or laws are needed to protect the public's health.

• Rural Health: Examine and determine ways to improve health care delivery in rural and medically underserved areas of the state. Determine whether additional funding provided during the 86th Legislative Session has helped to ensure more accessible and quality health care in rural areas.

• Strengthening Families: Examine Department of Family Protective Services procedures and grounds for placing a child into the child welfare system and the termination of parental rights. Make recommendations on ways to protect children who are involved with the child welfare system while preserving families under state law. Identify ways faith-based and other community organizations can assist in preserving or reunifying families involved with the child welfare system.

• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services passed by the 86th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
  
  
  
  • The continued implementation of SB 11 85th R.S., and Community-Based Care by the Department of Family and Protective Services;
  
  
  • Behavioral health programs, including implementation of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium ( SB 11 ), state hospitals, and strategies to address substance abuse and opioid addiction;
  
  
  • Child care quality and safety;
  
  
  • Medicaid medical transportation program relating to HB 1576 86th R.S.;
  
  
  • SB 21 86th R.S., including strategies to address tobacco and nicotine use, including e-cigarettes and vaping, by adolescents;
  
  
  • Maternal mortality and infant health initiatives, including the women's health programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission;
  
  
  • Initiatives to reduce Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse, as well as other cost containment strategies; and
  
  
  • Medicaid managed care oversight and accountability.
  
  

• Analyze the procedures for collecting, modeling, and reporting data on COVID-19 tests, cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities. Examine the role of state agencies, local governments, and private entities.

• Examine clinical best practices, including therapeutics, for treating COVID-19 patients at each stage of the disease. Monitor the status of vaccine development and distribution.

• Evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the impact of the COVID-19 response on behavioral health, child abuse, family violence, long-term care residents, and delayed medical care.

• Evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the impact of the COVID-19 response on behavioral health, child abuse, family violence, long-term care residents, and delayed medical care.

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