The legislature 's involvement was precipitated in 1996 by the reported amounts of improper payments in Texas ' Medicaid program ( estimated to range from $ 365 million to $ 730 million , or 4 to 8 percent of total expenditures ) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ( TANF ) and Food Stamp programs ( estimated at a total of $ 222 .
The legislature investigated Medicaid expenditures as well as Medicare expenditures in 1996 .