Featured Story: HB 3791 Will Not Make it to House Floor

Texans have done amazing work–but more remains

texas-still-needsYou, the community of supporters of health care for every Texan, have done amazing work for 1.5 million uninsured Texans. You called and emailed, rallied and wrote letters. Your efforts led to a solid majority of House lawmakers registering support for the health care solution bill this week.

Unfortunately, though, one of our best opportunities to get this done was taken away. HB 3791, the bill by Rep. John Zerwas that would expand health care coverage to low-income Texans, will not make it to the House floor for a vote.

There are a lot of ways for a bill to die, but this one met a particularly unsatisfying end without an up-or-down vote when a group of powerful leaders stepped in to make sure the bill never appeared before the House chamber.

We will continue to work on a way to get these Texans covered and will report back to you soon.

Cross-posted from the Texas Well and Healthy Blog.

Written by: Mimi Garcia, Engage Texas

New Federal Rule Highlights Importance of Accepting Federal Funds for a “Texas Solution”

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Wed, 2013-05-15 10:04

The Associated Press reported today that Texas hospitals could lose $56 million in 2014 in special Medicaid payments to hospitals that serve lots of people on Medicaid and the uninsured (so-called DSH or “disproportionate share hospital” payments). A newly proposed federal rule lays out a formula for how the federal budget will reduce those payments over time, as the number of uninsured starts to drop in 2014 with new coverage under the Affordable Care Act. According to the federal guidance, the numbers published today are just for illustration, but they are said to be in the ballpark of what states can expect.

Ask Cheasty: New CMS Database Means Better Informed Consumers

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Wed, 2013-05-15 09:42

Cross-posted from the Texas Well and Healthy Blog.

Written by Cheasty Anderson, Center for Public Policy Priorities

Hello, Texans! And for that matter, hello Americans! I’ve got some news to tell you about, but you’ve got to bear with me for a second here. First I’m going to use a bunch of jargony health care language that will make your eyes weep with boredom. But then I will explain what it means in such clear and precise terms you will be glad you stuck with me, because when I’m done, you will have information that gives you, the consumer, a first taste of what buying-power might feel like in the health care marketplace. (You know, eventually. Let’s not get crazy here.)

hospital dollar bill

Texas Business Association Endorses Zerwas Medicaid Plan!

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Fri, 2013-05-03 15:16

"The Texas Association of Business — a heavyweight in conservative lobbying circles — has endorsed state Rep. John Zerwas’ proposal to negotiate with the federal government to find a palatable way to expand health insurance coverage to low-income adults."

- Reports Becca Aaronson from the Texas Tribune

Texas lawmakers move closer to a deal to expand coverage

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Tue, 2013-04-23 17:42

Authored by Blake Hutson, cross-posted from the Consumers Union blog.

Today Texas moved one step further towards potentially reducing the state’s vast population of low-income working uninsured people. HB 3791 was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on a 15 to 9 vote. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

CTN Opposes Seven Bills Harmful to Texas Health

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Tue, 2013-04-09 13:16

Seven bills introduced during the 2013 legislative session seek to undermine the benefits of health reform in Texas and propose detrimental policies ranging from a prohibition on establishing a state exchange to a declaration against the individual health insurance mandate.

Read on for more information.  See the full list and breakdown of the seven bills here.

Cover Texas Now Rolls Out 2013 Legislative Agenda

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Fri, 2013-01-25 13:17

Cover Texas Now has released its 2013 Legislative Agenda! 

In continuing to advance a comprehensive approach to increasing access to quality affordable health coverage and ensuring a sustainable health care infrastructure for all Texas, CTN's agenda includes the following priorities for the 2013 Texas Legislature:

3 Great Tools on Medicaid Expansion and Texas

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Fri, 2012-10-12 16:47

CTN Testimony Urges Full Funding for Healthy Texas Program

Submitted by Anne Dunkelberg on Thu, 2012-09-27 17:58

September 24, 2012

Legislative Budget Board (LBB) - Governor's Office of Budget, Planning, and Policy (GOBPP) Joint Hearing on Texas Department of Insurance Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR)

Comments from Cover Texas Now Coalition on the Healthy Texas Program

Cover Texas Now (CTN) is a coalition of community and faith-based organizations who advocate for access to quality, affordable health insurance for every Texan.

Amicus Brief supports Medicaid Expansions in Health Care Reform

Submitted by Rosa on Mon, 2012-02-20 15:26

Cover Texas Now member Texas Impact has joined more than sixty national, state and local organizations in filing an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Medicaid expansions in the Affordable Care Act. The brief argues that these expansions more completely address the original intent of Medicaid - to fulfill the moral imperative to assist those who are poor and sick. To read the press release click here. 

Public Input Process Needed for Major Health Care Waiver

Submitted by Andrea Earl on Wed, 2011-10-26 14:33

Cover Texas Now and other organizations are signing on to letter requesting theTexas HHSC to establish an ongoing dialogue process for informing the public and receiving broad stakeholder input on policy development related to Texas’ July 2011 application for a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Advocates are concerned there is no formal process for keeping stakeholders informed as well as providing for meaningful input into policy before its adoption.  

The 1115 Medicaid waiver is a major provision in the health care omnibus bill, SB 7, passed during the 82nd legislative session. The waiver provides flexibility for Texas to expand risk-based managed care statewide and preserve Upper Payment Level (UPL) funding for hospitals. 

Syndicate content