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February 13, 2023
Medicaid Monday: The Unwinding Has Begun
Beginning January 28, Texans enrolled in Medicaid started receiving notice from HHSC informing them of the Medicaid unwinding. The end of continuous Medicaid coverage means millions of Texans who have not had to reapply for Medicaid in the last three years will have to go through the process soon. Members who have not signed up for alerts on YourTexasBenefits.com will receive a letter in the mail.
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.
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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.
February 23, 2017
HAC Begins Meeting
.HAC started meeting this week with presentations by the Legislative Budget Board. On Wednesday the LBB provided an overview of Medicaid. Total Medicaid funding in the 2016-17 adjusted base is $26.3 billion GR and $64.6 billion in AF. This includes an estimated $1.2 billion in GR funds above the 2016-17 Budget to complete fiscal year 2017 expenditures, which includes revenue adjustments, transfers, and assumed supplemental funding. House Bill 1, as introduced includes $27.0 billion in GR funds and $65.5 billion AF for Medicaid in 2018-19, which is an increase of $0.7 billion in General Revenue-Related Funds and $1.0 billion AFs. The committee had many questions about Medicaid managed care, capitation rate setting and savings, and STAR Kids. TAHP staff immediately started meeting with offices to educate them on the value of managed care and will continue meetings over the next several weeks. LBB Recommendations for HB 1 can be found here.
February 23, 2017
TAHP, TAB, & Others Launch Coalition to Tell the Truth About Freestanding ERs
This week, TAHP, TAB, TALHI, TAHU, and TORCH launched a coalition to raise awareness about freestanding ERs, their exorbitant pricing and misleading advertising that are confusing consumers and contributing to a serious emergency care cost crisis in Texas. Texans For Affordable Healthcare (TAHC), a healthcare advocacy coalition, seeks to educate the Legislature and Texas consumers about the non-transparent, anti-consumer tactics frequently used by freestanding emergency rooms, as Texas is home to more than half the nation’s FSERs. TAHC will be reaching out to Texans who have experienced surprise bills and confusions at FSERs and are willing to share their stories with others and the Legislature. Our coalition is seeking the following solutions to better protect consumers:
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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.
