Rep. Chuck Hopson Joins Gov. Perry to Sign Landmark Medicaid Reform
From the Office of Representative Chuck Hopson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Daniel Mahoney
Phone: 866-233-5100
FT. WORTH - Rep. Chuck Hopson joined U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt today, as Gov. Rick Perry signed SB 10 into law, reforming the state’s Medicaid program which serves more than 2.7 million vulnerable, disabled and elderly Texans. The bill will also offer a premium assistance program to help uninsured working Texans, who are not eligible for Medicaid, buy private insurance.
“The health of our state economy depends on programs like Medicaid,” said Rep. Hopson. “We need these programs to help our elderly and our disabled live their lives with honor and dignity. We need these reforms to make sure our healthcare system stays viable as our state grows.”
Today, Texas’ Medicaid program costs $39.5 billion, accounting for 26 percent of the state’s biennial budget. Hopson, who is a member of the Appropriations Committee that crafts the budget every two years, believes this bill will help institute a more flexible, innovative methodology to providing health care to underprivileged Texans, and will be able to serve individuals more efficiently.
Medicaid reform is designed to increase the percentage of Texans with health care coverage, focus on prevention and emphasize individual choice. Reform efforts will transform the state’s health care infrastructure, optimize health investments, and begin providing health coverage to an estimated 200,000 uninsured Texans.
“Without these reforms we could be facing a health care crisis in the future,” said Hopson. “These reforms will help prevent overcrowded emergency rooms, as well as, help local hospitals cover costs due to patients without health insurance and unable to pay their bills.”
- Additionally, Medicaid reform will do the following:
Provide assistance for enrollment in private insurance and employer-sponsored plans - Create tailored benefit packages for children with special health care needs
- Promote consumer choice through health savings accounts and consumer directed services
- Reward healthy lifestyle behaviors with health care incentives
- Set a cost-sharing base for non-emergency use of emergency rooms
In addition to Medicaid reform, SB 10 also requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a pilot project which provides incentives to primary care physicians serving Medicaid recipients who utilize health information technology, including electronic health records. Electronic medical records will ensure recipients are provided appropriate medical care.
HHSC will immediately begin work to prepare and submit a Medicaid waiver request by this fall to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
SB 10 takes effect immediately.
District 11 residents are encouraged to contact Rep. Hopson and his staff in his capitol office at 512-463-0592, or district office at 866-233-5100. Excerpts of this release were taken, with permission, from the Governor’s Press Office.
