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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2003
Contact: Steve Pier (512) 463-0630
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Delisi’s legislation: savings, health care and more
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AUSTIN -- State Representative Dianne White Delisi, District 55, has filed 39 bills in the 78th legislative session, including 25 that address health care costs in state government.
Delisi serves as chair of the state committee on Health Care Expenditures. The committee has already passed out four of her bills, which will save the state an estimated $320 million if approved by the full House of Representatives.
"The explosion of health care costs in Texas is one of the biggest reasons Texas is in the financial mess it is today," Delisi said. "In the past, we’ve approached the problem with a patchwork of programs and reforms that have been limited in their success. This committee provides a vehicle for addressing that issue."
In addition to cost savings, many of the bills will result in improved health care. Two bills dealing with disease management programs will save money by shifting state dollars to preventative medicine, avoiding costly emergency room visits. The bills save money and improve health care.
Delisi has also filed bills expanding the use of over-the-counter medications, continuing the six-month eligibility period for Medicaid and implementing a swipe-card system for recipients of medical assistance.
Delisi has also filed a bill to put teeth in the state’s unfunded mandate law. The law improves the process by which the legislature can review - and repeal - unfunded mandates.
"Too often the state solves its problems by passing the buck to the cities, counties and school districts," Delisi said. "This law allows for a clear, annual process to show the cost that we are asking the local entities to bear. With that information, we can take the first steps toward rolling back some of these costs."
Other legislation Delisi has filed include a bill to help dependents of military personnel receive their high school diplomas on time, a bill to allow military kids who have relocated to other states to take advantage of the state’s top-10 admission program to college, a franchise-tax exemption for water desalination, a bill to increase punishments for people who assault sports officials and a bill to improve the standards for defensive driving programs.
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