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 82^nd legislative session. The waiver provides flexibility for Texas to expand risk-based managed care statewide and preserve Upper Payment Level (UPL) funding for hospitals. 

Medicaid clients will no longer have to present a letter-sized piece of paper when visiting the doctor, dentist, pharmacy or clinic for their Medicaid services. The Texas Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) has tossed the outdated paper Medicaid ID, known as Form 3087, and replaced it with a plastic magnetic-striped card. In August, the agency started issuing the new Medicaid ID cards to Texas Medicaid clients and as of October HHSC is no longer producing the paper cards. The new ID is titled the Your Texas Benefits Medicaid card and can be seen above.