Apart from attempting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the GOP presents no health care policy changes leading up to the 2020 presidential election. However, the Democratic candidates have offered…
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The Trump administration and Texas leadership continue to offer a block grant model as a more “flexible” form of the Medicaid program than the traditional model, in place since the program’s 1965 inception as part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. Texas advocates of replacing traditional Medicaid with block grants are urging Texas leadership to pass a contingency Medicaid block grant act that will go into effect when a federal plan to block grant the program is in place and to lobby the Texas Congressional delegation to make block grants a priority. This posting explores block grant design and the impact of transforming Texas Medicaid to a block grant.
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Overview A North Texas judge ruled in December 2018 that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. This ruling is based on the premise that because the tax penalty tied…
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This brief provides an overview of Texas Medicaid issues to be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. These include the Medicaid shortfall affecting the current biennium, a number of Medicaid Managed Care issues, Medicaid expansion to adults up to 138 of the federal poverty level (FPL), and the FY 2020-21 Legislative Appropriation Request (LAR) for Medicaid. Note that Health and Human Service agency Transformation has consolidated most of Medicaid programming into one agency - the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
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Overview The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is directed to maintain and improve the health and human services system in Texas and to administer its programs in accordance with…
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Overview
DSHS works to improve the health, safety and well-being of Texans through good stewardship of public resources and a focus on core public health functions. Due to the agency’s shift under Transformation per Senate Bill 200 (84 R) to focus solely on public health functions and to move many programs and functions to other agencies, all funds spending in 2018-19 is considerably smaller (73% less) than that expended and budgeted in 2016-17.
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Overview
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is directed to protect Texas children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Of the state health and human service agencies, DFPS’ budget is between that of the more than $70 billion appropriated to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and the $1.5 billion to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). DFPS is allocated a total of $4 billion in all funds, though $3.5 billion (or 87%) is dedicated to Child Protective Services (CPS). Total agency appropriated funds in 2018-19 increased 10.4% or $384 million over what was expended and budgeted in 2016-17.
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In August of 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released data documenting “steep and sustained” sexually transmitted disease (STD) increases nationwide. Approximately 2.3 million cases of syphilis, chlamydia and…
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This posting explores prescription drug coverage under Texas Medicaid, including related spending and trends. Pharmacy costs borne by the state’s Medicaid program increased 90 percent from 2001 to 2011, prompting…
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This posting provides an overview of the national and state dimensions of Medicaid fraud, as well as efforts to detect and eliminate these crimes. The piece will look closely at…
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