Texas CHIP Coalition Minutes
Friday, July 15, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thompson Auditorium, 1st Floor
Texas Medical Association
Anne Dunkelberg called the meeting to order at 11:08 a.m.
Attendees: Kimberly Davis, HHSC; Melanie Bush, HHSC; Bryan Sperry, Children's Hospital
Assoc. of TX; Susan Terese, insure.a.kid; Sr. Helen Brewer, Seton Healthcare Network; Anne
Dunkelberg, Center for Public Policy Priorities; Patti Everitt; Therese Ruffing, Atty &
Consultant; Stephanie Leal, Children's Defense Fund; Kit Abney Spelce, insure.a.kid; Anne
Wingler, Children's Defense Fund; Heather Paffe, Planned Parenthood; Peggy Romberg, Women's
Health & Family Planning Assoc. of TX; Jay Bond, TX Dental Assoc.; Diane Rhodes, TX Dental
Assoc.; John Berta, TX Hospital Assoc.; Patricia Kolodley, TX Hospital Assoc.; Heather Vasek,
TX Assoc. for Home Care; Josette Saxton, Texans Care for Children; Durquia Guillen, Any Baby
Can; Helen Kent Davis, TX Medical Assoc.; Sonia Lara, TX Assoc. of Community Health Centers;
Anita Mitchell, TX Assoc. of Community Health Centers
HHSC-CHIP Perinate Program
Kimberly Davis gave an overview on the CHIP Perinate program and addressed several
questions regarding the program. See the attached documents: CHIP Perinate Summary  and SB1 caseloads .
Eligibility for the CHIP Perinate program will be based on the family's income. If a child
is born with complications, the parent may apply for Medicaid to receive more extensive coverage.
Decisions have not been made on outreach for this program.
Anne Dunkelberg agreed to collect and consolidate questions regarding outreach from the group and
forward to HHSC for feedback. The coalition will invite someone from IE to speak on outreach at
the September meeting.
Ms. Davis briefly discussed the implementation of the CHIP enrollment fee policy. Attached
is the handout she provided, CHIP Enrollment Fee Policy that will become effective with the
implementation of the Integrated Eligibility & Enrollment Broker (IEE). Also attached is the
CHIP Cost Sharing list . Ms. Davis informed the group that once the IEE contractor begins
processing CHIP applications the CHIP cut-off date would become aligned with the Medicaid
cut-off date, which is around the 15th of each month.
Melanie Bush addressed SB 747's Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health. The Medicaid Women's
Health and Family Planning waiver will provide basic medical check-ups and birth control
services to women (ages 18 and older) up to 185% of the federal poverty level
(that's $2,481 per month pre-tax income for a family of 3 in 2005). The overall
goal is to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, low birth weight babies and
screen for preventable diseases. Currently under Medicaid, an estimated 637,000 women
are eligible for this program. If the waiver were expanded to serve women up to 185% of
FPL, approximately 2 million women would be eligible in the first year. Some of the
services offered under the program:
- Well-woman exams
- Screening for diabetes, breast & cervical cancer
- Hypertension, cholesterol & tuberculosis screening
- Counseling and education on contraceptive methods with an emphasis on absentness for unmarried women
SB 747 prohibits counseling on emergency contraceptives and referrals to providers who
promote or perform abortions or who are affiliated with such organizations.
Once the concept paper is approved internally, it will be forwarded to CMS. Upon approval
from CMS, the state will began working on the waiver application. Ms. Bush did indicate that
at some point, there would be an opportunity for stakeholder input.
Medicaid 40th Birthday Event
The Medicaid 40th Birthday press briefing will be held on Thursday, July 28 at
11 a.m. in the Lt. Governor's Reception Room at the State Capitol, 2E.16, east of the
Senate Chamber.
A planning meeting for the Medicaid birthday event was held after the CHIP coalition meeting.
The next CHIP coalition meeting will be held on Friday, August 19, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
at TMA, 401 W. 15th Street, in the May Owen Conference Room, 10th floor.
With no other agenda items, the CHIP Coalition meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
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