THA Issues Statement On Medicaid Payment Decision

(AUSTIN, Texas – March 25, 2022)  – Today, THA President and CEO John Hawkins issued the following statement regarding today’s federal approval of three critical Medicaid directed payment programs for Texas. Read the approval letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services here. Additional related documents are available here.

“Texas received word today that CMS has approved three critical directed payment programs that will help Texas hospitals serve patients in need. Texas hospitals were urgently pushing for this clarity, which has been desperately needed in the midst of an ongoing public health emergency.

“Thankfully, the federal government came through with these approvals hours before the court-imposed decision deadline. On behalf of our hospitals and patients, we are incredibly grateful.

“Medicaid funding challenges, coupled with an ongoing pandemic and historic staffing shortages, created a disaster like never before in Texas health care, jeopardizing the safety net and the health of Texans. This must now be repaired, and we are looking forward to rebuilding.

“THA is reviewing the finer points of the information released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Notably, the federal correspondence outlines program approval for the full fiscal year of funding and includes a federal Office of Inspector General audit of Texas’ Local Provider Participation Funds, which we are closely evaluating.

“We hope to continue working closely with our state and federal partners on the structural elements of these programs and a path forward that best suits the people of Texas who need our care.”

About THA

Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 650 of the state’s non-federal general and specialty hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/texashospitals.