Sen. Jane Nelson and Rep. Four Price have proposed developing committee substitutes for SB 200/HB 2304 that will allow for a graduated approach to HHSC reforms. Those substitutes will:
- Continue the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for 12 years with a limited-scope Sunset review in 8 years;
- Consolidate the system's administrative functions such as information technology, contracting, legal, audit and rate-setting functions into one Administrative Division at HHSC, in accordance with current law;
- Placing Medicaid programs and client services in a new Medical and Social Services Division at HHSC;
- Moving regulatory functions from three agencies into one Regulatory Division at HHSC;
- Establish a Policy and Performance Office to assist in the re-organization and serve as a "think tank" to promote coordination across the system;
- Abolish and transfer functions of the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services to HHSC in 2016;
- Abolish and transfer functions of the Department of Aging and Disability Services to HHSC in 2016;
- Abolish and transfer functions of the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Department of State Health Services in 2019;
- Create a Transition Legislative Oversight Committee of 4 Senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, 4 Representatives appointed by the Speaker, and 3 public members appointed by the Governor to oversee the transformation.
