On February 19, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst announced a set of Interim Charges regarding the Texas workforce and finding more market-driven alternatives to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. He tasked the Senate Committees on Health & Human Services and Economic Development with improving access to improved services and opportunities for employees and employers throughout the state.
Lt. Governor Dewhurst issued the following charges to the Senate Committees on Health & Human Services and Economic Development:
Health & Human Services
BETTER HEALTH CARE SERVICES. Lt. Governor Dewhurst asked the committee to identify cost-effective alternatives to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act that would strive to encourage cost sharing, promote personal responsibility, reduce uncompensated care costs, contain increasing health care costs, improve access to care, address access to emergency department care issues in rural areas, promote the use of existing private coverage or employee sponsored coverage, reduce non-emergency use of emergency departments, and reduce the need for federal approval to the state Medicaid plan.
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES. Lt. Governor Dewhurst also instructed the committee to evaluate the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program structure. He asked the committee to make recommendations to improve the program's operations and ensure the program achieves outcomes that allow TANF recipients to find employment and achieve self-sufficiency and that seek to ensure Texas is using the most effective work-related requirements and drug testing protocols.
Economic Development
UNEMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING. Lt. Governor Dewhurst asked the committee to monitor implementation of SB 21 (83-R), which requires drug testing for unemployment insurance claimants. He also instructed the committee to investigate options to begin implementation of the rule without relying on U.S. Department of Labor regulations and make recommendations to ensure that unemployment insurance claimants are actively seeking work and not using illegal drugs.
Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst will continue to release his interim charges in the coming weeks.