Lynn Cowles
Recent and planned reductions to federal spending in Texas means that Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP food stamps, will require state gap funding.
Dedicating state general revenue for staff to administer SNAP food stamps and Medicaid will help improve the integrity of those programs by ensuring that enrolled Texans avoid falling through cracks due to new paperwork burdens and lack of support services. When eligible Texans stay enrolled, these support programs provide a platform through which recipients build income, household stability, and family health, meaning they are more likely to move out of those programs. Therefore, Every Texan recommends:
Funding HHSC LAR’s Exceptional Items;
Planning for increasing overall HHSC budget by drawing funds from state economic stabilization fund or reallocating discretionary funds from other state-funded funding pools;
Increasing funding for Home and Community-Based Services for people living with disabilities;
Increasing funding for women’s health programs; and
Increasing funding to local offices, providers, and community-based organizations that provide health care to uninsured Texans, underinsured Texans, and low-income Texans with high medical needs.