Zika is Coming – Let’s Be Sure all Texans have Access to Preventive Measures
Written by CPPP Health and Wellness Intern Julia Von Alexander Currently there have been 49 recorded cases of people with Zika virus in Texas, almost all acquired from foreign travel. But experts believe that mosquitos carrying Zika will come to the Gulf Coast soon. While Texas has started a campaign telling people to protect themselves […]
Statewide Meetings Are Our Chance to Request Federal Health Care Funding
This blog post originally appeared on the Texas Well and Healthy “Texas Treatment” blog. Starting July 13th in Houston, Texans can provide their input on maximizing federal health care funding for their communities in public meetings organized by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) on the proposed renewal of the state’s 1115 Medicaid waiver. […]
Concerns Remain on HHSC Sunset Consolidation Bill
The Health and Human Services Commission Sunset consolidation plan is less spooky than before, but still too scary for many. The House Committee on Human Services holds a public hearing today on HB 2304, the “Sunset” bill reauthorizing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and calling for a major restructuring of Texas’ health and […]
5 Things to Know As Feds Question Texas’ Uncompensated Care Waiver
In a phone call to the state’s Health and Human Services Commission last week, the federal government told Texas that its decision on continuing the “uncompensated care” portion of the 1115 Medicaid waiver will take into account whether the state accepts new Medicaid funds. CPPP has released a helpful fact sheet on the Texas 1115 Waiver […]
Photo ID on Lone Star Cards Expensive, Unnecessary
Today the House Human Services Committee will hear several bills that would require Lone Star EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards, used by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) recipients, to have a photo ID of the cardholder. Proponents argue these bills will reduce fraud rates, which are already exceptionally […]
Sunset Challenge: Will Services to Most Vulnerable Texans Hold Steady During a New Re-Organization?
This month’s release of the Texas Sunset Commission’s staff report on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission gave health and wellness advocates things to cheer—and also brought a few sighs and shudders. At 225 pages and 15 chapters, the report includes important research and covers a giant swath of operations and programs that are […]
Unusual Suspects Call for Expanded Health Care in Texas
I don’t pay much attention when a car dealer tries to sell me extra products and services that I don’t need. But I listen closely when a prominent Republican elected official in Texas says we need to expand health care access for low-wage workers. This month Harris County Judge Ed Emmett joined five other county […]
Lege Update–What’s happening with SNAP?
By Jeanie Donovan It’s been a busy couple months at the Texas Capitol and a handful of bills related to SNAP (formerly food stamps) have been filed. Some of the bills aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SNAP in its mission to ensure that Texans don’t go to bed hungry at night. Several […]
2013 Lege–Women’s Health
In 2011, family planning funding in Texas took a significant hit. Clinics across the state lost a total of $73 million in state funding for contraception, cancer screenings, and other preventive care services (a decision that resulted in an additional 23,800 Medicaid-funded births from unintended pregnancies, at a cost of $273 million.) Over the two […]
Concerns Remain About State WHP Capacity
Earlier this week, HHSC released a study finding that in most areas of the state, other providers can serve Women’s Health Program clients who can no longer go to Planned Parenthood. The study shows that the 51 Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas served more WHP clients in 2012 than ALL the other 1,948 near-by WHP […]
