Texas CHIP Coalition Minutes
Friday, January 13, 2006 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
May Owen Conference Room, 10th Floor
Texas Medical Associations
Anne Dunkelberg called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.
Coalition guests from HHSC included Colleen Grace, Lead Health Plan Manager;
Susan Gibson, Health Plan Manager; Melanie Bush, Senior Policy Analyst, Medicaid/CHIP
Policy Development; Joanne Molina, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Social Services;
and Skye Kilaen, External Relations Specialist.
HHSC Updates
Susan Gibson and Colleen Grace gave an update on the CHIP dental benefit,
tentatively scheduled for implementation on April 1, 2006. The state
contract with Delta Dental is value-based purchase, which holds the
contractors accountable for their performance. Thus far Delta Dental
has contracted approximately 300 providers and are seeking to contract more.
The dental benefit will be a three-tier package offering both preventive
and therapeutic benefits in all tiers. Families will be assigned to a tier
group (tier I, tier II or tier III) based on several criteria. New enrollees
will be assigned to Tier I, enrollees who are deemed from Medicaid will be
assigned to Tier II. Families who renew in a timely manner will enhance
benefits up to Tier III. The maximum 12 month benefit for 6 months dental
coverage under Tier I is $375, Tier II $475 and Tier III $575. Each tier
will have a dental benefit amount of $175 for preventive care and therapeutic
benefit amount will vary: Tier I $200, Tier II $300 and Tier III $400.
Families will be given a 1-month grace period. Families can use all their
dental benefits in the first 6 months of coverage.
Within 60 days of the effective date, Delta Dental will notify current CHIP
enrollees about the restored dental benefit, via the enrollment packet.
Provider rates will be comparable to the previous CHIP benefit rates two
years ago. For more information, providers and members can contact Delta
Dental. See attachment. 
HHSC was asked to share communications about the dental benefits that are
mailed to families with the coalition in order to better assist CHIP
families with questions they may have regarding the correspondence.
Julia Easley, chair of the Dallas Area TexCare Outreach Coalition,
offered HHSC assistance to help recruit dentists in the surrounding
area to participate in the CHIP dental program. Ms. Grace will be contacting
Ms. Easley to further discuss the opportunity to help recruit dental
providers.
Melanie Bush gave an update on the Women’s Health Waiver that was
submitted to CMS on December 29, 2005. HHSC is scheduled to have a
conference call with CMS the week of January 16 to discuss the budget.
The full range of Medicaid Family Planning services will be offered
under the Women’s Health Waiver.
Joanne Molina gave an update on the Integrated Eligibility & Enrollment
(IEE) system. As of December 1, 2005 the Texas Access Alliance (TAA)
assumed eligibility and enrollment operations for CHIP. On January 2,
2006, TAA began receiving all new applications. This does not include
renewals. Renewals will continue to be handled by the local offices
until roll-out is completed. TAA has 45 days to process an application,
but must take some form of action within 5 days of receiving an
application. An action may be in the form of requesting more information
or making an eligibility determination. The state has implemented a
quality assurance process to monitor all aspects of the new system.
On January 20, the new eligibility system rolled out in Travis and Hays
counties. Three offices in Austin and the San Marcos office are being
piloted and families in these counties can now apply for Medicaid, CHIP,
TANF and long-term care via phone, internet, fax, mail or in person. To
access the latest news release on the IEE rollout in Travis and Hays
counties, visit the HHSC website.
Ms. Molina addressed several questions and issues from the group. She
shared some suggestions and recommendations offered by the coalition
with HHSC and followed-up with the coalition to provide clarification on
several other questions. See attachment.
There was brief discussion regarding media and marketing materials.
Ms. Molina indicated that Stephanie Goodman would be the appropriate
person to contact for inquiries on marketing.
When the time is appropriate, Anne Dunkelberg asked Joanne for an update
from HHSC on the federal budget reconciliation bill requirement of proof
of citizenship by Medicaid and long-term care recipients. Currently, in
the state of Texas, proof of citizenship is only required by applicants
seeking TANF. Proof of citizenship would require a birth certificate,
passport or something comparable. A Texas driver’s license will no
longer serve as proof of identification. If this new requirement is
implemented, it could be a barrier for applicants who were not born in
Texas.
Announcements
Sonia Lara reminded coalition members about the upcoming Texas Health Care Access Conference in February 28, at the
Marriott Austin South Airport. Hotel rooms are still available at the
discount rate and early registration ends January 31.
(Note: If you wish to register for the conference,
see the attached registration form.)
Anne and Sonia went to Washington D.C. January 18-20 on behalf of the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Covering Kids & Families initiative to
visit 5 congressional offices to discuss the successes and challenges of
the Texas CHIP Coalition. A one-pager emphasizing the progress in Texas
on covering more kids and the need to invest more in outreach was left
with congressional staff. See attachment for the one-pager.
With no other discussion items, the CHIP Coalition meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
The next CHIP coalition meeting will be held on Friday, February 17, 11:00 a.m. –
1:00 p.m. at TMA, 401 W. 15th Street, in the Thompson Auditorium, 1st floor.
Related Information
Other Coalition Meeting Minutes
This document in pdf format [pdf] |
