Texas Secures Approximately $350 Million in Federal Funding for Women’s Health Services
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have reached an agreement to provide comprehensive women’s health services through a Medicaid demonstration waiver over the next five years.
"The Lone Star State is once again in partnership with the federal government to provide meaningful family planning and health services while fostering a culture of life," said Governor Abbott. "This collaboration is a symbol of our commitment to championing the lives of Texas women. I am grateful to President Trump and his administration for approving this waiver, and for his commitment to protecting the unborn while providing much-needed health resources to Texas women."
The approval of the Healthy Texas Women demonstration waiver will allow the state to utilize federal funding for women’s health services that positively impact the health and well-being of Texas women.
“With Governor Abbott’s strong leadership, we continue making significant strides in improving access to women’s health and family planning services in Texas,” said Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, HHS executive commissioner. “We welcome our renewed partnership with CMS to ensure healthy outcomes for Texas women.”
Through this agreement Texas will receive approximately $350 million in federal funding for women’s health services over the next five years. The agreement was reached today.
With the demonstration waiver, Texas continues its focus on reducing unintended pregnancies, targeting individuals not currently enrolled in HTW and measuring the extent to which the waiver services impact overall maternal health and Medicaid costs.
Services include family planning, breast and cervical cancer screenings, well-women exams and screening and treatment for postpartum depression, hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes.
The Healthy Texas Women demonstration is for women who meet all of the following qualifications:
Ages 18 through 44
U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants
Texas resident
Not currently pregnant
Does not currently receive benefits through a Medicaid program that provides full benefits, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare Part A or B, and does not have any other creditable health coverage
Net family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level
A beneficiary within the HTW program meeting the above eligibility requirements will not experience a gap in coverage and will be able to receive the same benefits previously provided under the state funded HTW program. Healthy Texas Women would continue to serve clients ages 15-17 using only state dollars.
The waiver upholds Texas’ policy that favors childbirth and family planning services that do not include elective abortions or the promotion of elective abortions within the continuum of care or services and avoids the direct or indirect use of state funds to promote or support elective abortions.
HTW family planning and family planning-related services are reimbursable at a 90 percent federal matching rate, and other pre-conception services such as screening and treatment for hypertension, diabetes and postpartum depression would be matched at the regular federal medical assistance percentage rate. Administrative expenses would be matched at 50 percent.
The new waiver will allow Texas to serve more than 200,000 clients a year. Healthy Texas Women served approximately 173,000 women in FY 2018, the most recent year data is available.
More information is available at healthytexaswomen.org. Texas residents can dial 2-1-1 to learn about programs and services.
