Blog: Child Health/Children At Risk

5-1-21

We’ve been talking about the advantages of expanding Medicaid in Texas to cover low income adults, most of whom are working.  Unfortunately, last Thursday the Texas House shot down Rep. Garnet Coleman’s amendment to increase health coverage on a vote of 68 to 80. You can see below how your Representative voted.

The truth is, the House vote is out of step with Texas voters, as you’ll see if you follow this link to a recent study by the Episcopal Health Foundation.

According to our partner organization, Cover Texas Now (CTN), 76 Representatives — a majority of the 150-member House — signed on to House Bill 3871 last week. The bill would establish a Live Well Texas program that provides an insurance option to Texas adults below 138% of the poverty level. This is considered a Texas specific solution that would allow us to access federal funds to cover these uninsured adults without going through traditional Medicaid expansion. Despite this level of support, it is unclear at this time if this bill will even get a hearing.

Thursday’s vote is out of touch with reality: Texas has the worst uninsured rate for both children and adults in the nation — a distinction we would like to lose!

What can we do?  First, take a look below to see how your Representative voted — then give them a call to say thanks if they voted for the amendment or to tell them you’re disappointed if they voted against it.  Need to check who your Texas House Representative is or find their phone number? Click here.

Second, call Speaker Phelan and Chairman James Frank of the House Human Services Committee and urge them to schedule a hearing on HB 3871 as soon as possible.