Blog by W. Stephen Love, President/CEO, DFW Hospital Council

Vince Lombardi once said, “People who work together will win whether against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society.”

We were pleased to learn on May 2 that the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver would be extended for 15 months. We will now have funds for Uncompensated Care and the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP) pools. We thank HHSC and CMS for their work to continue these important programs.

DSRIP is no small matter, with 1,451 projects across 20 regions of Texas serving some of our most vulnerable populations with crucial healthcare that promotes primary and preventive care. The authority for this extension is in section 1115 (a) of the Social Security Act, with the Medicaid 1115 Waiver entitled “Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program.”

We should certainly celebrate this 15 month extension, but we need to immediately begin work on what happens before this extension expires at the end of 2017. If you are a stakeholder, physician, hospital leader, community healthcare provider or state legislator, the time is now to develop an approach supporting appropriate levels of Medicaid payment for 2018 and beyond.

Our plan must address coverage, access and appropriate provider payments while utilizing systems for managing and coordinating care. CMS and HHSC must reach an agreement by the end of the 15-month extension. We have no choice but to work collaboratively to ensure we have an approved plan for the future.

We care about the health and well-being of all Texans, especially our uninsured citizens. So it is imperative that we put public health on our priority list with a bipartisan solution. The next 15 months will be a challenge, but we will succeed if we work together. Let’s strive to do the right thing for our fellow Texans by ensuring we meet that deadline. The countdown to December 31, 2017 has begun.