Innovation

Did you know that Texas leads an innovative state-wide implementation of the 1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver? The 1115 Medicaid waiver is a series of success stories built on working with the federal government to fund health-related projects in regions across the state.

Texas’ successful negotiation and implementation of this Medicaid program is one reason we know the Federal Government is willing to work with Texas for a customized roll-out of additional Medicaid coverage for Texas working families. View the Map of Texas Regional Healthcare Partnership Regions.

Texas 1115 Waiver Primer: A quick look at the the Waiver details: Texas 1115 Waiver

Action alert: The current 1115 Waiver agreement expires September, 2016. Millions of Texans are at risk of losing access and treatment if the 1115 Waiver is not renewed.

Action alert: Texas Insight reminds us: Texas Should Begin Preparing for its 2017 Block Grant Opportunity Now.

Case studies

How are Harris County health care organizations using the 1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver for mental and behavioral health? Read about it here: ANCHOR_APR2015. Also, discover more about Texas innovations in health care, using the 1115 Waiver to save and change lives, including the Southeast Texas Regional Healthcare Partnership.

More Region 3 Innovation: Houston Recovery Center

 Patient now has hope through Memorial Hermann team effort, part of Medicaid expansion program under the 1115 Waiver. Read her story here: Memorial Hermann 1115 Waiver

Innovation: The Mental Health Channel

The Mental Health Channel is a new online network for mental health best practices and inspiring personal journeys told in video documentaries — real people, real stories, real innovation.

A documentary about the San Antonio police department’s mental health unit is featured on the Mental Health Channel. “The Right Response” is an inspiring example of Texas mental health innovation.

News

Community Health Choice, a nonprofit that administers Medicaid managed care plans, will announce on Wednesday a pilot project with physicians from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and the UT Medical Branch in Galveston. It will set a fixed payment for pregnancy care from the first prenatal visits through 60 days after delivery, and for all the care delivered to newborns up to 30 days after they leave the hospital. Read the story here.

 

Teladoc, which uses technology to facilitate patient-doctor visits, has sued the Texas Medical Board in Federal court over a new rule that requires physicians to either meet with patients in person before treating them remotely or have other providers physically present with patients when treating them remotely for the first time. Read more here.

 

In a related announcement, the Texas Association of Health Underwriters is arguing that the Texas Medical Board rule limiting telemedicine exists in opposition to existing insurance law. Read more here.

 

 The strike force on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has issued its report focusing on six areas critical to dealing with recent events and improving the future direction of the agency. Read the report here: HHS Strike Force Report