AUSTIN – A supplemental spending bill passed by the 84th Legislature caused total state spending on health and human services to exceed education spending for the first time in Texas history. To examine how Texas can stabilize the growth of health care spending while improving access to and quality of care, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Health Care Policy will host the panel “Uncompensated Care, Medicaid, and Solutions to Texas’ Health Care Crisis” at the 14th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 1:30 pm CST at the Hilton Austin Hotel in Meeting Room 616.
“The Texas Medicaid program is on an unsustainable trajectory,” said John Davidson, director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “Nearly 30 percent of the state budget now goes to fund Medicaid, a share that’s been steadily increasing for years. If we do not begin working towards structural, comprehensive Medicaid reform, funding the program will require cuts to other areas of the budget, tax hikes, or both. Meanwhile, Medicaid will provide increasingly poor access to care for those who are currently enrolled and rely on it for health coverage.”
Panelists include:
- Representative Garnet Coleman, Texas House of Representatives
- Dr. Vance Ginn, Economist, Center for Fiscal Policy, Texas Public Policy Foundation
- Camille Miller, President & CEO, Texas Health Institute
- John Davidson, Director, Center for Health Care Policy, Texas Public Policy Foundation (Moderator)
For over thirteen years, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation has been one of the nation’s top policy conferences, selling out each year while bringing together lawmakers, policy experts, and engaged citizens from across the political spectrum to discuss critical issues facing the Lone Star State and America. This year’s program includes more than 35 panel discussions and debates on the major issues affecting Texas’ future.
Members of the public and media who wish to attend may register and view the agenda at: www.PolicyOrientation.com
Keynote and plenary sessions will be livestreamed at: txpo.li/TPPFlive
John Davidson is director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.