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A newsletter to keep you informed.
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Greetings, Coalition Members and Supporters!
The THIRD Special Session of the 83rd Texas Legislature has ended, and some of us have had a chance to take some time off. I hope that you and your co-workers have been able to relax a little and catch up with life and work.
There is sad news from the Houston area. Rep. John Zerwas' wife Cindy passed away Tuesday from brain cancer. Dr. Realini called Dr. Zerwas' Capitol office to convey our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zerwas family.
Now, in the interim, the Coalition will be meeting less often, but continuing to focus on ensuring that preventive care is available to as many Texas women as possible.
Your Steering Committee continues to meet regularly, and plans are in the works for a fall 2013 Coalition meeting. Stay tuned for date and time, and please feel free to suggest items for the agenda.
Thank you for your support and hard work!
Best,
Megan
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Primary Health Care: Reassurance
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On August 6, several TWHC Steering Committee member representatives met with Dr. David Lakey, DSHS Commissioner; Kirk Cole, Associate Commissioner; and Imelda Garcia of the Division of Family and Community Health Services about the concerns in our letter of July 29. Thanks to Michelle Romero of TMA, Sandra Martinez of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and Juliana Kerker representing ACOG District XI for attending.
We found DSHS to be dedicated to the success of the Expanded Primary Care Program, and committed to achieving the 60% family planning target. This will be accomplished through contract negotiations with those awarded contracts.
We also discussed the other items in our letter, and we were pleased to hear of the department's intention to include screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion in the clinical requirements and policy manual for the program.
In addition, we understand that the department is working to make long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) available as a first-line choice for women who would like to use them.
Coalition representatives voiced that we would like to help ensure the success of the EPHC program. We expressed appreciation for the meeting, for their hard work, and for their willingness to address concerns.
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| Women's Health Program Saves $$$ |
The Medicaid Women's Health Program (WHP) saved the state of Texas more than $19.5 million in General Revenue in 2011, with the state getting back $6.43 for every $1 it put into the program.
The program is calculated to have averted 7,395 unplanned births in 2011, the most recent year for which birth data are available. With each birth costing $10,367 in Medicaid costs, the program decreased Medicaid costs by $76.7 million all funds.
From January 2007 to December 2012, WHP was a Medicaid family planning waiver program, which became a state-only funded program, the Texas Women's Health Program (TWHP), in January of 2013. Texas' "Affiliate Ban Rule" excluding Planned Parenthood clinics from participating in the program resulted in discontinuation of Medicaid funding from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Like WHP, TWHP provides screenings and birth control for Texas women aged 18-44 who live at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. These are te women who would be eligible for Medicaid if they were pregnant. In addition, TWHP provides treatment for some sexually transmitted infections.
The Texas Women's Healthcare Coalition is pleased that the 83rd Texas Legislature supported continuation of this program with state funding, after the federal support was no longer available. The 2014-2015 state budget includes $71.3 million in state General Revenue for TWHP -- enough to continue services for the same number of women that WHP served. However, it will be a challenge to ensure adequate capacity to serve the need, without many of the largest providers.
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Do you know an organization that should consider membership in TWHC? What organizations do you collaborate with? How about YOUR organization?
Please help TWHC to consider new members, as we head toward the fall and into the interim between sessions. Our goal is to build membership, including both local/regional organizations as well as statewide organizations. We are looking for interested clinics, healthcare organizations, policy organizations, and faith organizations to work with us to strengthen access to prevention for Texas women.
Questions? Suggestions? Please email us at Info@TexasWHC.org
THANK YOU!!
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