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Featured
January 26, 2023
TAHP Supports Bills to Create More Affordable Health Coverage Options for Employers
This week, Sen. Drew Springer filed SB 605 which would give Texas employers the flexibility to select the best value in health insurance for their employees. It is the companion bill to HB 1001 by Rep. Giovanni Caprilione. Both bills would allow health plans to offer coverage that meets all the protections of insurance but is exempt from mandates that go beyond federal requirements.
Featured
January 26, 2023
TAHP’s Legislative Guide is here
TAHP’s agenda focuses on creating increasing affordable coverage and building on the success of Medicaid managed care in the state.
The full guide gives a comprehensive explanation of health insurance issues for the legislative session, the agenda focuses on key, proactive items.
Featured
May 23, 2022
Medicaid Monday: Managed Care Reduces ER Visits
The use of emergency rooms for primary care services is decreasing, thanks to Medicaid managed care. A recent report by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) shows a 15.5% decrease in the number of potentially preventable emergency room visits in Texas Medicaid and CHIP programs. This is great news for both Medicaid members and taxpayers. Utilizing preventative and standard care before conditions become emergencies leads to better health outcomes and to less costly care.
Media Contact
July 25, 2017
Healthplan Highlights from the 85th Legislature Released
The 85th Legislative Session has come to a close, and the Texas Association of Health Plans is pleased to report on a number of important achievements made possible through comprehensive communications, education, and advocacy strategy carried out in coordination and collaboration with each of our members.
May 19, 2017
Pro-Consumer Legislation Requiring Greater Transparency from Free-standing ERs Headed to the Governor
The Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP), the statewide trade association representing commercial and public health plans operating in Texas, today applauded Senate passage of Rep. Tom Oliverson’s HB 3276, which requires independent freestanding emergency rooms in Texas, which are almost all out-of-network for insured Texans, to be more transparent and upfront with patients about their network status. HB 3276 now heads to the Governor for his signature.
February 23, 2017
HHSC Releases 2017 Fact Book
HHSC has released the Fact Book for 2017, which provides overview of Medicaid programs and caseloads and the 11th Edition of Medicaid/CHIP in Perspective (aka The Pink Book). You can view the Pink Book here.
February 23, 2017
Legislators File Bill Extending Sunset Date of State-Run Medicaid Formulary
HB 1917 (attached) was filed this week by Raymond, Zerwas, and Four Price. The bill extends the sunset date of the state run VDP Medicaid formulary to 2030. Current statute gives MCOs full control of the formulary in 2018. TAHP is strongly opposed to this bill and has begun making visits to share reasons for opposition. See our one-page legislative guide on the benefits and savings that will be achieved by transitioning the formulary to MCO management here.
February 23, 2017
Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers Makes False Claims About Underpayments by Insura
The Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (TAFEC) issued a press release this week claiming 3,400 requests for mediations in Texas are complaints and have resulted in $750,000 in payments to providers as a result of underpayment by insurance companies. Here is a link to the report requested by Rep. Workman from TDI. TAFEC failed to mention that these 3,400 mediation requests to challenge surprise bills from providers totaled more than $6 million in billing and the ultimate result is that consumers were protected against more than $5 million in over-billing by providers. It is also important to note that as it stands, consumer mediation protections do not apply to FSERs. TAHP pointed out these discrepancies to the Dallas Morning News this week; stay tuned for a piece running later this week.
February 23, 2017
Trump Administration Releases Proposed Rule Addressing Market Stabilization Issues
his week HHS released a proposed rule that takes steps aimed at stabilizing the individual and small group health insurance markets. The proposed rule “would make changes to special enrollment periods, the annual open enrollment period, guaranteed availability, network adequacy rules, essential community providers, and actuarial value requirements; and announces upcoming changes to the qualified health plan certification timeline.” Read more from AHIP here.
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