Fw: Testimony on TX Medicaid Waiver needed for Tuesday

[Guest guest]

ATTN: TX WOMEN

Martha

National Silicone Implant Foundation | Dallas Headquarters"Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices"4416 Willow LaneDallas, TX 75244-7537

----- Original Message ----- From: Texas Campaign for Women's Health

Action Alert

Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 7:37 PM

Subject: Testimony on Medicaid Waiver needed for Tuesday

Texas Campaign for Women's Health Update*** Please forward this update widely to any individuals or email lists that would be interested ***In this message:1) Your testimony needed on waiver Tuesday, February 25********************************Dear Advocates,The Select Committee on State Health Care Expenditures is meeting on Tuesday and is scheduled to hear House Concurrent Resolution 56. HCR 56, by Rep. Diane Delisi (R-Temple), calls for the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to authorize any section 1115 demonstration waivers. Legislative approval of this resolution will increase pressure on the Governor and Health and Human Services Commissioner to proceed with our application for the Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health.If this resolution passes, this will mean that the legislature is serious about implementing the most cost-effective solutions to our healthcare needs while drawing down the most federal money we can. The Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health that we have been supporting has a 90-10 federal match--the best of any federal Medicaid match!Your testimony on Tuesday will help put a face on the need for this important source of funding for women's health care. The committee is scheduled to meet:Tuesday, February 25, 20034:00 p.m. in the Capitol Extension room E1.010If you would like to submit testimony, but cannot attend the hearing, you may fax or email your written testimony to me at (512) 448-3373 or LRamsey@....The Select Committee on State Health Expenditures:Chair: Rep. Dianne White Delisi (R-Temple), fax: (512) 463-5896 Vice-Chair: Rep. o Gutierrez (D-Mc), fax: (512) 475-1700Members: Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler), fax: (512) 463-3217Rep. Capelo (D-Corpus Christi), fax: (512) 463-5896Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton), fax: (512) 463-0471 Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont), fax: (512) 463-8381Rep. Harper-Brown (R-Irving), fax: (512) 499-8287Rep. Sid (R-ville), phone: (512) 463-0628 Rep. Vicki Truitt (R-Keller), fax: (512) 477-5770Rep. Uresti (D-San ), fax: (512) 463-5896Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson), fax: (512) 463-5896

Why the Texas Campaign for Women's Health supports the 1115 Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health with on-site eligibility determination:Fifteen other states have waivers like this in place‹15 other states have made women's health a public policy priority.Texas ranks third in the nation in the number of uninsured women. More than 1.5 million women in Texas are uninsured. We need this waiver to secure the health of women and families throughout our state.With the waiver in place, thousands more women will have access to the following preventive and primary care services:o an annual physician examinationo contraceptiveso health screening for breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, anemia, hypertension, sexually transmitted diseases and infections and other conditionso diagnosis and treatment for breast and cervical cancerThe waiver will fill an enormous hole in the health care safety net. Under current guidelines, only women at 17% poverty qualify for family planning services. The waiver expands qualification to women ages 18-44 at 185% poverty level‹the level at which they would qualify for prenatal care under Medicaid.Moreover, the waiver is cost efficient. For every state $1 spent on these preventive services, federal Medicaid will pay $9. This 90% to 10% match rate would allow Texas to provide preventive medical care to thousands of low-income citizens with the smallest of state investment.Additionally, the eligibility determination process for patients seeking services under the Women's Health Care Medicaid Waiver must be simple, inexpensive and at the point of service. These women seeking the limited preventive health care services at an average cost of $140 per year under the waiver should not have to go through the full-blown Medicaid eligibility process.***************************This update is provided by the Texas Campaign for Women's Health. TCWH is a statewide coalition comprising more than 70 co-sponsoring organizations, as well as many individuals, working together to improve the status of women's health care in Texas. Co-sponsors include health care advocates, professional organizations, and community based advocacy, action and support groups.Join the "TCWH ActionAlert" email list at www.topica.com********************Lesley RamseyProject DirectorTexas Campaign for Women's Health905-A W. OltorfAustin, Texas 78704(512) 448-4857(512) 448-3373 fax