AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas would take control of its own federal health care benefits under legislation tentatively approved by the Texas House.
The House voted Wednesday to allow Texas to join an interstate compact that gives states power to adopt their own health care rules instead of federal regulations.
Oklahoma and Georgia have already created the compact that challenges federal health care law. States would receive federal health care funding as a block grant and decide how to structure Medicaid and Medicaid programs.
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican who authored the bill, said the legislation aims to give states more flexibility to adjust spending.
Democrats argued that the bill would reduce Medicare funds to senior citizens.
Congress would have to approve the compact.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
