Central Texas submits Medicaid waiver plan

Following federal approval for a waiver that allows Texas to provide cost-saving Medicaid improvements, the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) has taken a leading role in two of the state’s new regional healthcare partnerships (RHPs) – one in Central Texas, the other in the Brazos Valley area.

Each partnership must submit a regional health care plan to participate in the waiver. The plans include projects that are driven by a regional health assessment and identify participating public entities and performing providers. The projects are meant to transform health care in the region with incentive projects that that develop infrastructure, innovate and redesign programs, improve quality and make population-focused improvements.

On Dec. 12, the plan for RHP 8 – Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Milam, Mills, San Saba and Williamson counties – was signed and certified at the TAMHSC Round Rock Campus, then submitted to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for formal review and approval. A similar signing occurred in November in Bryan for the plan for RHP 17 – Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Walker and Washington counties.

Pictured in the Dec. 12 signing are, from left, front row, Cynthia Guerrero, Williamson Cities and Counties Health Department (WCCHD); Anita Martinez, WCCHD; Janice Ehlert, TAMHSC; Lindsay Pollok TAMHSC; Jeff Madison, Little River Healthcare; Dr. Lee Ann Ray, TAMHSC.

Second row: Dr. Chip Riggins, WCCHD; Cynthia Long, Williamson County Commissioner; Terry Browning, Rockdale Hospital District; George DeReese, Little River Healthcare

Third row: Bride Roberts, WCCHD; Kathy Pierce, Williamson County

Fourth row: Eldon Tietje, Central County Services; Bonnie Scurzi, Bell County Public Health District; Rita Kelley, Bell County; Carol Ellis, Burnet County.

Not all participants in the RHP 8 plan are pictured. A copy of the plan is available online at http://www.tamhsc.edu/1115-waiver/rhp8.html