Stacey Pogue

Health policy wonk. Senior research fellow @GtownCHIR. Formerly @EveryTxn. Still deep in the heart of Texas.

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

This holiday season, hundreds of thousands of Texans in need are facing unnecessary delays accessing food and health care assistance because of state paperwork backlogs.

We are calling on @GregAbbott_TX to take immediate action and resolve these extensive delays:

[Joan Alker @JoanAlker1]

Next Weds 11/15 @GeorgetownCCF is releasing our annual report on child coverage rates examining 2019-2022.

Members of the media can DM @gothopecathy for details on the call.

Ill be joined by 💪 women of Texas @StaceyPogue and @ValerieBSmithMD to discuss Medicaid unwinding.

[Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) @TexasTDI]

Shopping for insurance during open enrollment?

We have tips to help you find and compare health plans in Texas. https://t.co/RO6V7ZnmVR

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

The Texas Medicaid renewal website is down all weekend, BOTH Saturday 9/23 and Sun 9/24. The error message says call 211 Option 2 (which is always closed every weekend).

Texas sent renewals to 1 million people 2 weeks ago. Lots of Texans need to renew now.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

Many Texans are trying to renew Medicaid right now. In August alone, TX planned to send renewals to 1.3 million Texans (21% of the caseload). The renewal website & app were down today (Saturday) & last Sunday. The error message says to call 211 Option 2. It's closed on weekends.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

The Texas Medicaid renewal website was also down all day Saturday, Sept 9 and will be down all day Sunday, Sept 17. It'll have been down for one full weekend day for 4 weekends running.

Texan sent out 1 million renewals in Aug & is scheduled to send out another million in Sept.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

Texas still has the worst uninsured rate in nation (16.6%) by a wide margin in new 2022 @uscensusbureau data.

It looks like Census has to extend its x-axis range to fit Texas on this chart with the other states.

[Joan Alker @JoanAlker1]

Texas continues to have virtually no Medicaid renewals conducted on an ex parte basis which is required by federal law.

Many states as we know now are getting it wrong but Texas it appears is barely doing it at all.

[Texans Care for Children @putkids1st]

New HHSC Medicaid data confirms our concerns:

➡️ Most Texans losing Medicaid health insurance are KIDS

➡️Texas removed the vast majority from Medicaid — about 80% — WITHOUT determining whether they were still eligible

New data for April-July:
https://t.co/xer9yoboyr #TXlege

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

Texas HHSC posted data today confirming 80% of people losing TX Medicaid have been kids.

100K kids were determined ineligible

400K kids were kicked off due to red tape with no eligibility determination.

42K kids moved from Medicaid to CHIP https://t.co/GgJ0m47wXe

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

In just June & July, Texas kicked 450K people off Medicaid without determining them ineligible.

Most are likely kids - 3 in 4 Texans with Medicaid are. Kids are eligible for Medicaid at higher incomes, so lots of TX kids losing coverage likely remain eligible for Medicaid/CHIP.

[Joan Alker @JoanAlker1]

NEW: Just under 1/2 million kids have lost Medicaid in Texas

Only 100k were determined ineligible

C. 400k did not make it thru the process

80% of those losing coverage in Texas are children

US has hit 1 MILLION mark for kids losing Medicaid

A sad day

https://t.co/KbRrtBfkwz

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

Unwinding is a huge job for Texas HHSC. Staff are doing the best they can with the resources and direction they have. The Texas Governor needs to take meaningful action. He should ensure no more eligible kids, seniors, or individuals with disabilities lose coverage.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

In just June & July, Texas kicked 450K people off Medicaid without determining them ineligible.

Most are likely kids - 3 in 4 Texans with Medicaid are. Kids are eligible for Medicaid at higher incomes, so lots of TX kids losing coverage likely remain eligible for Medicaid/CHIP.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

TX takeaway: given our bad initial unwinding data and the fact that TX Medicaid covers mostly kids, it’s clear that lots of people losing Medicaid will actually still be eligible & could have retained coverage if Texas did more data-driven renewals & reduced bureaucratic barriers

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

In just June & July, Texas kicked 450K people off Medicaid without determining them ineligible.

Most are likely kids - 3 in 4 Texans with Medicaid are. Kids are eligible for Medicaid at higher incomes, so lots of TX kids losing coverage likely remain eligible for Medicaid/CHIP.

[Stacey Pogue @StaceyPogue]

Some Texans who lose Medicaid will move to job-based coverage or CHIP. Some postpartum moms or kids who turned 19 will be eligible for the Marketplace, but others will be stuck in the coverage gap because Texas has failed to expand Medicaid to cover adults in/near poverty.

[Joan Alker @JoanAlker1]

I should add that Texas did not provide a breakdown of how many are children and parents but since they have not expanded Medicaid to other adults that is mostly who is enrolled.

[Joan Alker @JoanAlker1]

A high ex parte rate is a key metric for a state trying to do Medicaid unwinding right and not lose a lot of eligible children and adults in the process. Its not optional btw.

Our new chart has ex parte rates from preliminary data submitted to CMS.
https://t.co/krrLem89v2