Tag Archives: Medicaid

The cost of doing nothing

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, as the health care reform battle lurches towards the finish line, that doing nothing is not a viable option. A week after a Texas agency reported health care reform legislation would cost the state’s Medicaid program an … Continue reading →

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Dems attack Perry over stimulus funds

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. Texas Democratic lawmakers Thursday defended President Barack Obama’s stimulus package against criticism from Republican leaders, saying Texas is making economic progress with the help of recovery funds. Texas state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said … Continue reading →

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Perrycare

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Who says Republicans don’t have any ideas about health care reform, or anything else for that matter? Here’s Rick Perry’s plan to overhaul the system. This afternoon, Rick Perry’s office released a letter the governor has sent to Health and … Continue reading →

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Another win for CHIP

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news on the CHIP front. The Texas House today gave final approval to a measure that would expand the Children’s Heath Insurance Program by allowing certain families who earn more than the current income limit to pay to join … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits notes with some pleasure a couple of amendments in HB300, the massive TxDOT sunset bill that passed yesterday, which would limit and ultimately end cities’ use of red light cameras. While I’ve never understood the fear and loathing these … Continue reading →

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More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits notes with some pleasure a couple of amendments in HB300, the massive TxDOT sunset bill that passed yesterday, which would limit and ultimately end cities’ use of red light cameras. While I’ve never understood the fear and loathing these … Continue reading →

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Is there a Medicaid issue or not?

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this week, Sen. Steve Ogden and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst made the claim that Medicaid would require another $1 billion from the budget, and that this would constrain the budget reconciliation committee as it tries to fund everything that’s … Continue reading →

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Watch out for Medicaid

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A wrench just got thrown into the budget reconciliation negotiations. Forecasts that more Texans battered by the recession will qualify for free health care under the Medicaid program will require that the program receive nearly $1 billion more in state … Continue reading →

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CHIP and Medicaid advance

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news for CHIP and Medicaid. The House Committee on Human Services approved a measure that would expand eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a move the bill’s author, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said would add 80,000 children to … Continue reading →

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Extending Medicaid

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Texas likes to bill itself as a business-friendly state. But there’s one thing that a lot of businesses want that the Republican leadership has been unwilling to entertain, and that’s to make Medicaid renewals an annual event instead of every … Continue reading →

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House panel passes its budget

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The House Appropriations Committee takes care of business. House budget writers today backed a $178.4 billion, two-year state budget that would give a $1,000 bonus to state government employees [who make less than $100,000 a year], retired teachers and retired … Continue reading →

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“What’s Medicaid?”

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t too much to ask, is it? Give State Rep. Gary Elkins some credit for being honest. At a hearing [Thursday] of the House Committee on Human Services, Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two … Continue reading →

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The stimulus and the budget

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, who is the chair of the ad hoc committee that is charged with disbursing federal stimulus funds, gave an update on their proceedings. Among other things, the federal money may free up some state revenues. Normally, … Continue reading →

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