Texas CHIP Coalition Minutes
Friday, November 12 2004, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Durham Conference Room, 10th Floor
Texas Medical Association
Anne Dunkelberg called the meeting to order at 11:10 a.m.
HHSC Updates
Joanne Molina provided an update on the impact of the asset test for the
period of August 24 - September 30, the first 5-week period since its implementation.
For applications, vehicles only affected 23 cases or 45 children; cash only affected
71 cases or 139 children; and a combination of cash and vehicles affected 82 cases or
186 children. For renewals, vehicles only affected 1 case or 2 children; cash only
affected 5 cases or 9 children; and a combination of cash and vehicles affected 6
cases or 18 children. However, applications "pending" (need more information
regarding assets) at the end of the first 5 weeks included 7,709 accounts or
14,772 children. For renewals, there were 731 accounts pending.
Ms. Molina reported that HHSC would hold an executive meeting with
Commissioner Hawkins on Thursday of the following week to discuss
the disenrollment survey and the special study on cost-sharing, which make up the
ICHP report. After this meeting, there will be a decision made on when to release
the ICHP report.
Ms. Molina reported that letters regarding the suspension of premium payments for
all families went out in October. ACS experienced a large volume of phone calls as a
result, and reported that many families were confused. Some families believed that
there would not be funding for CHIP if they did not pay their premiums. Some families
are still paying their premiums as a result. Those payments are not being returned and
instead families' accounts are being credited. Currently, HHSC's financial services
division is still costing out options for revising premium policies, and any further
dialogue with stakeholders (including the Coalition) regarding premium payments will
occur after Commissioner Hawkins has been briefed on these options; no firm time line
for this.
Ms. Molina also provided a toll-free phone number to reach the co-located
Medicaid unit at ACS (TexCare), per request from several coalition members.
The co-location unit is the group of state eligibility workers stationed at
ACS that process TexCare applications deemed to Medicaid. Coalition members
who work closely with families had previously reported that they did not have
a direct phone number to reach the co-located unit when they wanted to check the
status of an application that had initially gone through TexCare/ACS. The phone
number is 1-866-291-1258.
Other discussion included feedback on the Medicaid ID form, CHIP provider rules and
the Preferred Drug List or PDL.
Ms. Molina asked if any feedback was received from coalition members regarding
the proposal to send Medicaid ID forms to children once per 6 months (rather than
monthly, the current practice). It was suggested that HHSC develop a communications
plan, and that HHSC consider conducting informal focus groups with Medicaid doctors
and clients to try and address any of the day-to-day activities that might cause
problems with the new ID forms.
There was a brief discussion of the new CHIP provider rules. These rules were
only shared with a small group of people, some coalition members. There are not
too many changes and the new rules deal mostly with how providers will make appeals
and complaints on HMO claim issues.
Helen Kent Davis with TMA reported that a letter would be sent to HHSC regarding
complaints about the PDL. Doctors don't understand the new procedures and why they
must seek extra approval for some of the prescriptions they give their patients that
are on the PDL. For instance, an extra approval is required when the dosage or number
of times the patient is prescribed to take a prescription is not what is approved
according to the PDL. Also, any revisions or updates to the PDL are not being given to the
doctors in timely manner and there are concerns about this as well.
CHIP Congress
Patti Everitt with CDF gave a brief summary of the CHIP Congress held on Wednesday,
November 10. The CHIP Congress brought together key stakeholders from all over the state
for the Campaign to Restore CHIP to develop an action plan for the legislative session.
Patti reported that next steps included facilitating the advocacy day and to select a date
for the event.
CHIP Principles
Anne provided copies of the most recent draft of the principles for the upcoming
legislative session. There are some comments that Anne is still incorporating into
the document and the final draft will be sent to the listserv next week.
Other Business
The next CHIP coalition meeting will be held on Friday, December 17 from 11:00am -
1:00 pm at TMA, May Owen Conference Room, 10th floor.
With no other agenda items, the CHIP Coalition meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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