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August 18, 2020
Texas Health Plans Respond to COVID-19
touching every facet of American life. Texas health plans are heavily invested in the health of the Texas communities in which we live and serve, and we are doing all we can to keep Texans safe and support our provider partners. Learn more about how Texas health plans are taking action to help Texans get access to the prevention, testing, and treatment they need to stay healthy.
August 17, 2020
Texas Health Plans Are Committed to Curbing the COVID-19 Virus
The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to Texas and our nation, touching every facet of American life. In the face of these challenges, Texas health plans are committed to curbing the virus and helping Texans receive the testing and care they need to stay healthy—including eliminating out-of-pocket costs for Texans by covering COVID treatment and testing at no cost and expanding access to telemedicine. The health and well-being of millions of Texans is our highest priority.
August 7, 2020
TAHP Urges State Leaders to Address COVID Test Price Gouging
AHP sent a letter to state officials opposing the Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers’ (TAFEC) recent request for a waiver or rule change that would allow them to provide non-emergent care, including COVID-19 testing. Under their current licensure, freestanding emergency rooms (FSERs) may only provide medical care in emergency situations.
August 3, 2020
ProPublica Investigates Freestanding ER Price Gouging in Texas
Over the weekend, national investigative journalism organization ProPublica published an article demonstrating how freestanding emergency rooms are price gouging Texas patients. In this case—as in hundreds of others around the state—a freestanding ER billed a Houston woman $2,500 for her son’s drive-thru COVID-19 test. The test itself was only $175, but the facility tacked on $2,300 in unnecessarily high facility and physician fees.
July 30, 2020
TAHP Notes Test Price Gouging is a Dangerous New Trend
HOUSTON — Some consumers who thought they were getting a simple COVID-19 test instead got a surprise bill charging their insurance company thousands of dollars. The Texas Association of Health Plans called it a dangerous new trend from a small number of providers.
July 1, 2020
Finding Health Coverage When You Lose Your Job: COBRA Is Not Your Only Option
The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the importance of health coverage when it comes to financially protecting Texas families from our state’s high health care costs. Texas already had the highest percent of uninsured residents and some of the highest health care prices in the country—now, both of those problems have been exacerbated by the coronavirus.
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Articles written by TAHP’s team of policy experts that examine the research, trends, and impact of the most important health care policy issues facing Texas and the country today.
Weekly news clips assembled by the TAHP team that highlight the top headlines from the health insurance and health care worlds, as well as important political updates.