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HHSC News: News Releases
News Releases
January 18, 2012
New Medicaid Committees Named
AUSTIN – HHSC has selected members to serve on three new advisory committees created by the 2011 Texas Legislature. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Council, the Quality-Based Payment Advisory Committee and the Physician Payment Quality Committee will help improve Medicaid services and reform the payment system.” [New Committees]
December 12, 2011
Texas Gets Approval for Cost-Saving Medicaid Improvements
AUSTIN – Texas today received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a waiver that allows the state to expand Medicaid managed care while preserving hospital funding, provides incentive payments for health care improvements and directs more funding to hospitals that serve large numbers of uninsured patients.
“This waiver will allow us to replace an archaic federal Medicaid funding system with one built around local solutions that rewards hospitals for patient care and innovation,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs. “These reforms will allow us to ensure the best, most efficient use of Medicaid funding and improve services for Texans.”[Cost-Saving Medicaid Improvements]
October 11, 2011
State Warns of Scam Involving Medicaid Card
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is warning Texans with Medicaid coverage to be aware of a scam where a caller asks them to provide a bank account number and tries to sell them a replacement Medicaid card. [Scam Involving Medicaid Card]
September 23, 2011
Travis, Bastrop Fire Victims Can Use State Benefits to Buy Hot Foods
AUSTIN – SNAP recipients can use their benefits to purchase hot ready-to-eat foods in Travis and Bastrop counties through October. These items, which are not normally allowed under federal rules, will help families who are unable to return to their homes immediately due to fires. [Fire Victim Exceptions]
September 19, 2011
Special Food Benefits Available to Bastrop Fire Victims
AUSTIN – Bastrop County residents who lost income as a result of the fires may qualify for special food benefits this month.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) sought and received a federal waiver to make the disaster assistance available to individuals and families who lost income or incurred extra expenses as a result of the fires. [Bastrop Fire Food Benefits]
September 9, 2011
State Notifies People Whose Information Was on Stolen Laptop
AUSTIN – The state is notifying almost 1,700 people that a stolen laptop may have contained their names, birthdates and some health information. All the affected individuals will be provided with free credit monitoring services although there is no evidence that the information has been misused.
The laptop was stolen from the car of a nurse with the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The information was used to help conduct reviews of hospitals and nursing facilities that accept Medicaid. It included the names of 1,696 people, their birthdates, gender, Medicaid client identification numbers and procedure and diagnosis codes. The data did not include Social Security numbers. [Information on a Stolen Laptop]
September 7, 2011
State Opens Mobile Office to Help Fire Victims Replace SNAP Benefits
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is opening a mobile unit at Bastrop High School and sending state staff to shelters to help victims of the fire replace their food benefits.
A mobile unit is located at 1602 Hill St. in Bastrop to help people who lost food that had been purchased with SNAP food benefits (formerly called food stamps). The unit will be located near the old football field. Families may be eligible for replacement benefits for food that was destroyed by fire or electrical outages. [Fire Victim SNAP Benefits]
September 6, 2011
Baldwin Named Interim DFPS Commissioner
AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs has asked Howard Baldwin to serve as interim commissioner for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
DFPS Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein is retiring Sept. 30. Baldwin, a lawyer with more than three decades of human services experience, will take over as interim commissioner Oct. 1. [Interim DFPS Commissioner]
August 30, 2011
State Takes Steps to Improve Oversight of Dental Services
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is taking several steps to strengthen the authorization process for braces while still ensuring that children on Medicaid are able to get all medically necessary services.
“Texas has done a good job of increasing access to dental care, and we want to continue the momentum in that area,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs. “But we also need to make sure that every dollar we spend is for services that are medically necessary.” [Oversight of Dental Services]
June 23, 2011
Texas Children's Hospital Receives Medicaid Incentive Payments
HOUSTON – Texas Children’s Hospital received a $4 million Medicaid incentive payment for making the transition to electronic health records. [Houston Hospital Earn Bonus]
June 17, 2011
Wanser Named DARS Commissioner
AUSTIN–Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs has selected Debra Wanser as commissioner for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). [Wanser Named DARS Commissioner]
June 16, 2011
Texas Gets $6.2 Million Bonus for SNAP Payment Accuracy
AUSTIN–Texas received a $6.2 million federal bonus for achieving one of the highest payment accuracy rates in the nation in the SNAP food benefits program. [Texas Gets $6.2 Million Bonus]
May 16,2011
Dallas Hospitals First in State to Get Medicaid Incentive Payments
Methodist, Children’s Earn Bonuses for Conversion to Electronic Health Records
AUSTIN – Two Dallas hospitals are the first in Texas to receive Medicaid incentive payments for making the transition to electronic health records. Methodist Health System of Dallas qualified for $3.7 million and Children’s Medical Center Dallas earned $3.8 million under the new program.
“This is one way that we can continue advances in patient care even when dollars are tight by using technology more effectively,” said Texas Medicaid Director Billy Millwee. “Having electronic records makes it much easier to ensure that doctors have all the information they need about a patient when making treatment decisions.” [Dallas Hospitals First to get Medicaid Incentive]
February 28,2011
State Honors Seton for Reducing Trauma Births
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has honored Seton Family of Hospitals with its first Quality Award for reducing the number of injuries to newborns during childbirth.
Seton achieved the lowest birth trauma rate in the nation with an initiative that limited the use of forceps, vacuum deliveries and elective inductions before 39 weeks of gestation. [Seton for Reducing Trauma Births]
December 15,2010
Amarillo Benefits Office Moving to Larger Location
AMARILLO – State staff who process applications for Medicaid and SNAP food benefits are moving to a new, larger location in Amarillo.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is moving to 28 Western Plaza Drive in Amarillo on Monday, Dec. 20. The new location will have more room for staff and a larger lobby to better accommodate the number of clients who get state services. [Amarillo Benefits]
November 24,2009
Traylor to Lead Department of Aging and Disability Services
AUSTIN – Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Thomas Suehs today announced that Chris Traylor, who has led the state’s Medicaid program for the past three years, will be the next commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). [New DADS Commissioner]
September 14,2009
HHSC Gets Grant to Help Employees Pay for Health Coverage
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received a $50 million grant to provide cost sharing accounts to help low-income working Texans purchase health insurance.
“What’s great about this project is that it really stretches limited taxpayer dollars to insure more Texans,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs. “The employer still covers most of the insurance cost, and the state will provide extra help to employees who may not be able to afford their portion of the premiums or the co-pays for the coverage.” [Health Coverage]
August 31,2009
Weizenbaum to Serve as Interim DADS Commissioner
AUSTIN – Jon Weizenbaum will serve as the interim commissioner for the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) while a nationwide search for the agency’s next leader continues. [Interim DADS Commissioner]
August 17,2009
Increase in Annual Payment Helps Low-Income Children With School Expenses
AUSTIN – About 59,000 low-income children are receiving extra help with back-to-school expenses, thanks to the Texas Legislature. [TANF]
July 20,2009
Operation Lone Star Offers
Free Medical Care to South Texas Communities
AUSTIN – Operation Lone Star, which provided health care to more than 11,000 South Texas residents in just two weeks last year, is expanding this summer to provide free health clinics in even more locations.. [Operation Lone Star]
June 25,2009
Department of Aging and Disability Services Commissioner to Retire
AUSTIN ― Adelaide “Addie” Horn, commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), announced today she will retire from state service on Aug. 31, 2009. [DADS Commissioner]
May 22,2009
Families Can Now Apply for CHIP, Children’s Medicaid Online
Parents can now apply for state health coverage for their children from the convenience of their home computer at any hour of the day or night. A new online application for Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is now available at www.CHIPmedicaid.org. [Children's Medicaid Online]
May 14,2009
HHS Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins to Retire
AUSTIN ― Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins today officially notified the Governor of his intention to retire. [Albert Hawkins]
March 16,2009
HHSC, Evercare Agree to Early End of ICM Contract
AUSTIN ― The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Evercare have agreed to end a contract for the Integrated Care Management (ICM) program, which provides Medicaid services to 74,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. [ICM Contract]
January 13,2009
State Creates Loan Repayment Program for Medicaid Doctors, Dentists
AUSTIN – A new loan repayment program will help Texas increase the number of doctors, dentists and specialists who provide care for children with Medicaid coverage. [Frew Loan Repayment]
January 13,2009
Molina Named Deputy Executive Commissioner for Social Services
AUSTIN – Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins has named Joanne Molina as his new deputy executive commissioner for social services.[Molina]
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