House passes bill to cover $4.5 billion Medicaid IOU
The Texas House on Thursday cleared an emergency budget bill that will cover the $4.5 billion tab for Medicaid that lawmakers intentionally left unpaid two years ago.
House Bill 10, which will now head to the Senate, must be signed into law by early March or doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers will not get paid for serving the 3 million low-income children, elderly and disabled Texans in Medicaid.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, underscored the need to pass the bill quickly and cleanly.
“The bill is necessary to ensure that the state of Texas continues to meet its financial obligations for fiscal year 2013,” Pitts said. “Without the appropriation of this bill, our Medicaid program will run out of money next month, leaving health care providers across the state of Texas without reimbursement for the vital services they provide for our constituents.”
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/house-passes-bill-to-cover-45-billion-medicaid-iou/nWWTQ/ .
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