Ch
hildre
en’s Hospi
H
itals S
Serve
e
Child
dren from
f
All A
Acros
ss Tex
xas
What’s Happeniing in the Legislature
e?
There are about seven million children in Texas, and tthe state facces enormouss challenges
addrressing the health,
h
safety
y and educatiion requirem ents of this ffast-growing population.
Children’s hospittals serve as
s the pediatric
c safety net, providing sp
pecialized me
edical care to
o
child
dren without regard to inc
come or healtth insurance status. State
e funding deccisions have
a sig
gnificant impact on our ab
bility to serve
e all children who need th
he high-qualitty services
that these hospittals provide.
The Texas Sena
ate Finance Committee
C
ha
as made imp
portant restorrations of fun
nding for
foste
er care, Child
d Protective Services,
S
chiildren’s menttal health serrvices, Mediccaid
phys
sician and de
ental paymen
nt rates and Medicaid
M
inp
patient hospittal payment rrates for
child
dren’s hospitals. Although
h there are so
ome funding needs that a
are not addre
essed, the
Senate bill is a great
g
step forrward in preserving essen
ntial servicess for the mostt vulnerable
of ou
ur children. The
T progress
s that the Sen
nate has mad
de stands in contrast to th
he House
Appropriations bill,
b which serriously impac
cts funding fo
or children’s h
healthcare.
The profound pro
oposed cuts to Medicaid funding still iin the House
e Appropriatio
ons bill will
harm
m the ability of
o children’s hospitals to provide
p
cliniccal care, to trrain and recruit the
spec
cialized pedia
atric clinician
ns that childre
en need, and
d to advance the quality o
of pediatric
care
e through res
search and in
nnovations in service delivvery.
Children’s Hospitals Serve Children from
All Across Texas
Children’s hospitals are regional centers that serve children from all over Texas. In 2008,
children from 243 of the 254 counties in Texas were patients at children’s hospitals, and
only 6,000 children live in the other 11 counties.
On behalf of children all across Texas, we urge you to share this newsletter and educate
your co-workers, colleagues, and other business and personal contacts in rural districts
who do not have a children’s hospital, about the importance of children’s hospitals in their
communities.
For information about how many children in your area have been patients at children’s
hospitals visit www.childhealthtx.org.
On Behalf of Children’s Hospitals in Texas,
CHAT Has Asked the Texas Legislature to:

Preserve funding for inpatient care at children’s hospitals to protect the mission
and ability of children’s hospitals to care for all children, irrespective of how sick or
injured a child may be.

Continue state funding for the children’s UPL program. If it is not possible to
continue the state-funded UPL programs, include children’s hospitals in UPL
programs funded with local public funds.

Support funding to maintain access to primary care and pediatric subspecialty
services for children in Medicaid and CHIP, including funding for outpatient
children’s hospital services.
Legislative Budget and Medicaid in the News
The following news stories provide a more in-depth look at how cuts to Medicaid would
affect children in Texas.
“Texas House budget deals blow to Harris County Analysis: More than $2 billion in
Medicaid funding would be lost,” Houston Chronicle, April 5, 2011.
“Senate Finance chief: Real budget woe ignored,” San Antonio Express-News, April 7,
2011.
How Can You Help?
Contact your legislators about the importance of preserving funding for children’s
hospitals.
To write a personal letter, find the contact information for your legislators here.
OR
Easily send an electronic message to your legislators here.
Become a CHATvocate!
There is strength in numbers! Please click on the link below and become involved. We will
continue to keep you informed about these important issues throughout the legislative
session. You can also help spread the word about the coalition among your co-workers,
colleagues, and other business and personal contacts. Educate them about children’s
healthcare issues and encourage them to get involved. You CAN make a difference!
Click on the link below to become an advocate for Texas children’s hospitals:
http://capwiz.com/childtx/mlm/signup/?ignore_cookie=1
Jo
oin Us on
o Face
ebook and
a Folllow on
n Twitte
er
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d on Facebook | Forward to a ffriend
Copy
yright © 2011 Children's
C
Hospittal Association of
o Texas, All rig
ghts
reserrved.
The Children’s
C
Hospital Association of Texas (CHAT
T) is a non-proffit
assoc
ciation whose mission
m
is to ens
sure that Texas children have
acces
ss to effective, high-quality,
h
co
omprehensive an
nd appropriately
y
funde
ed healthcare. If
I you do not wish to receive an
ny further e-ma
ails
from us, please click
k the "unsubscriibe" link below.
Our mailing address is:
Children's Hospital Association
A
of Te
exas
823 Congress
C
Ave. #1500
#
Austin, Texas 78701
1
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