| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Positive | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Summary: HB 3158 would create a pilot program in the Dallas Area. The Health and Human Services Commission would be able to work directly with Healthcare Collaboratives in order to remove the Managed Care Organization (MCO) acting as the middle man in the relationship. Currently, physicians are not able to work with the HHSC to receive money directly for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients. Right now, HHSC gives money to the MCO (for Medicaid and CHIP patients) who then gives money to the health care providers.
Analysis: It is important for Texas to be creative in dealing with healthcare and Medicaid. The current system is not working and the state is under enormous pressure to adopt the federal healthcare program. Pilot programs like this will do a lot to move Texas in the right direction towards solving the problem. TPPA supports HB 3158.