Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Cook Children's Issues 'Dire' Warning if TX Fails to Address Health Coverage

Cook Children's has expressed profound concern over a looming crisis that threatens health care access for Texas' most vulnerable children. A staggering 1.8 million children and expectant mothers statewide, including 125,000 within Cook Children’s Health Plan’s Tarrant County service area, face potential disruptions in their health coverage due to the current situation.

In 2024, the Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) denied contract renewals to several Medicaid providers, including three non‑profit, Texas‑based children's hospital plans: Cook Children's Health Plan, Texas Children's Health Plan and Driscoll Children's Health Plan. Despite their combined 60-plus years of proven, high‑quality care, HHSC awarded the multi‑billion‑dollar Medicaid STAR/CHIP contracts to several publicly traded insurers beholden to out‑of‑state shareholders.

This precarious situation will have devastating consequences for 10,000 children with complex medical conditions, including 170 relying on ventilators and 1,700 who use wheelchairs. Beyond the direct impact on these children and their families, the repercussions extend to our community's economic stability, potentially costing 400 jobs in Tarrant County and up to 2,000 jobs across the state within Texas-based children’s health plans if this issue is not resolved. 

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram provides coverage of the situation here.