While we all continue to ponder what the state's budget situation will mean, we must remember that certain allocations are mandatory. One example of such is Medicaid funding, for which the state of Texas settled a lawsuit in 2007 that had accused the state of not providing federally-mandated preventative care by not providing sufficient funding for physicians' visits. See here and here for some background. That issue may get brought up again, because the attorney for the plaintiffs says that the state has not met its obligations under the court's order.
State officials said they're complying with the order in the case of Frew v. Hawkins, which, among other things, requires Texas to spend $150 million in state funds "toward strategic initiatives to improve ... access to services."Susan Zinn, who represents Texas children on Medicaid, said the court requires that the money be spent in the 2008 and 2009 budget years, but the state plans to spend less than a third of that during that period.
"They're obliged under the court's order to spend all of that this biennium, and they seem to be violating that order," Zinn said. "That money is not just money -- it's supposed to result in improved access to health care."
About a third of Texas children are on Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program.
Zinn said she hasn't decided whether to take further legal action.
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Goodman said that proposals recommended by an advisory council are forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board and Gov. Rick Perry for approval.
"This means it takes some time to get proposals up and running," she said.
"We want to make sure the funding for strategic initiatives is spent wisely," she said.