AUSTIN (AP) - Texas lawmakers will get a briefing on the current status of Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

Experts on Monday will update a House Appropriation Subcommittee on the program that represents one of the largest segments of the state budget.

Last year lawmakers shorted the program by roughly $4.8 billion, hoping that Texas will get special waivers from the federal government. But that hasn’t happened.

Officials with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services have predicted that lawmakers will need to come up with more than $10 billion to cover the current deficit and increases in the next budget.

That could create another crisis when lawmakers meet next year to draft the next two-year budget. Last year the Legislature cut $27 billion in state services.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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