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Senate Passes Medicaid Cost-Savings Bill

AUSTIN — The Senate today passed SB 23, legislation authored by Senator Jane Nelson to implement cost-savings initiatives in Medicaid. The bill now goes to the House.

"These reforms will help balance the budget and make Medicaid more efficient by expanding managed care and streamlining services," said Senator Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

The Finance Subcommittee on Medicaid, chaired by Senator Nelson, identified nearly $3 billion in cost savings. Senate Bill 23 implements the cost-savings measures that require statutory changes.

Key provisions of SB 23 would:

• expand Medicaid managed care;
• implement an objective client assessment process for acute nursing services;
• use technology to prevent fraud in delivering community based long-term care services; and
• direct the Department of Aging and Disability Services to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate level of community services.

Senator Nelson represents Senate District 12, which includes portions of Denton and Tarrant counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.