CHRISTUS Health As A Safety Net In Texas (Download as a PDF)

The Issue

CHRISTUS Health facilities, along with other providers, provide a health care safety net essential to those members of our communities who are uninsured, under-insured, or have inadequate access to health care. Maintaining and expanding federal funding of this safety net, through Medicare and Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, the Community Access Program, and other initiatives, is imperative.

We are often the major providers of trauma, burn, and neonatal intensive care services, as well as services for AIDS patients and the terminally ill. For Catholic hospital systems such as CHRISTUS, the provision of such services is indeed part of our mission. Yet, it is often the case that these services are not reflected in the amount of charity or uncompensated care provided.

There are 46.6 million Americans without health care coverage. Even with some relief through the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, growing need continues to strain our facilities’ ability to care for the poor and underserved.

On the state level, safety net hospitals rely on Medicaid reimbursements and CHIP payments. Despite this, the Texas Legislature cut funding in 2003 for Medicaid & CHIP in the face of a $10 billion budget shortfall. These cuts took the form of increased income eligibility requirements that ultimately reduced the number of poor and elderly eligible for Medicaid and reduced the amount of DSH and Medicaid reimbursements.

In 2005, the Legislature restored eligibility for many cut of those from the rolls in 2003. However, lawmakers did not restore provider reimbursement rates, and only partially restored the Medicaid Adult Medically Needy Spend-down program. Lawmakers also directed that expansion of Medicaid managed care in Texas must be with a non-capitated model of care management for aged, blind and disabled Medicaid recipients.

The CHRISTUS Health Position: Advocate for a stronger safety net.

Medicaid provides essential health benefits to millions of low-income children and adults who would otherwise not be able to afford health coverage.

CHRISTUS Health supports increased state and local funding of Medicaid, CHIP and other health care programs for the indigent and uninsured.

We support restoration of Medicaid funding to pre 2003 levels and with minimal impact to funding care for the uninsured. We also support expanding eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP to levels allowed by federal law.

January 2007