Coalition Urges TX Leaders to Address Kids’ Health Coverage Amid COVID-19
The Children's Health Coverage Coalition (CHCC), a statewide coalition of over 20 organizations, sent the following letter to Texas leaders expressing gratitude for the state’s efforts to address COVID-19 and outlining several policy recommendations to ensure children have access to health coverage and health care.
Prior to the pandemic, Texas already had the nation’s worst uninsured rate for children, a challenge that included Texas children from all backgrounds and communities, including infants, toddlers, and other children under age six.
As unemployment soars during the pandemic, a new analysis estimates that 1.6 million Texas adults and children will lose job-based health insurance.
Explaining the challenges that Texas faces amid the pandemic, the letter notes:
Currently, primary care physicians are facing unprecedented challenges providing uninterrupted health services to children and families during this crisis due to state and federal regulations and lost revenue. If physicians who care for children are not able to serve children during this time, this means immunizations are missed, safety information is not shared, developmental concerns go undetected, and referrals to ECI services to address disabilities and delays don’t occur.
Likewise, ECI providers are seeing large decreases in referrals to ECI services and are facing historic financial challenges. The strength of the ECI referral network is critical, physicians rely on them as the primary referral source for children who need additional support due to developmental delays and disabilities.
Missed services can have devastating impacts on a child’s health, growth, and long term development. Texas must take steps to ensure stability and flexibility among pediatric, family medicine, and ECI providers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure our children get the services they need to be healthy and succeed in school.
The Coalition urged state leaders to take the following steps, which are described in greater detail in the letter:
Ensure Kids Have Access to Health Care
Suspend copayments and enrollment fees for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Extend the temporary amendment to Medicaid policy that allows health providers to conduct Texas Health Steps (THSteps) visits via telemedicine for children over 24 months of age and allow for retroactive payments for qualifying visits.
Provide clear guidance to the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to support financial relief for physicians and providers who care for children.
Get and Keep Kids Enrolled in Health Coverage
Suspend CHIP 6-month income checks that occur for CHIP households at 185 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) or higher.
Continue the suspension of inaccurate mid-year eligibility reviews in Children’s Medicaid after the federal emergency declaration ends, relying on the accurate annual reviews to confirm eligibility.
Suspend the 90-day waiting period for children applying for or enrolled in CHIP.
Remove barriers to enrollment or renewal, specifically address challenges and wait times when calling 2-1-1.
Provide Accurate Information to Families on Health Services
Incorporate messaging around the importance of well-child checks, especially for young children, into public service announcements related to COVID-19 and encourage MCOs to incorporate into communications with families.
Communicate to families and primary care physicians that ECI is available via telehealth.
Provide a clear message to families that their benefits are extended until further notice due to the pandemic.
Provide families with a strong clear message that children who are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants can receive benefits with no impact on the public charge of others in the household.
Children’s Health Coverage Coalition (CHCC) includes the following organizations:
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Center for Civic & Public Policy Improvement
Children's Defense Fund - Texas
Children's Hospital Association of Texas
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Community Health Choice
Easterseals Central Texas
EveryChild, Inc.
Harris Health System
League of Women Voters of Texas
March of Dimes
Methodist Healthcare Ministries
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Texas National Association of Social Workers
Texas Texans Care for Children
Texas Academy of Family Physicians
Texas Association of Community Health Centers
Texas Association of Community Health Plans
Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Texas District of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—District XI
Texas Hospital Association
Texas Impact
Texas Medical Association
Texas Occupational Therapy Association
Texas Parent to Parent
Texas Pediatric Society
UNIDOS US
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
United Ways of Texas
Young Invincibles