Website Streamlines Organ Donation Process The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has launched a revised online organ donor registry to make it easier for Texans to register as organ, tissue and eye donors. Before the Glenda Dawson Donate Life – Texas Registry, there was no official state list in Texas of people who wanted to consent to being donors. For those who register, the list can help ensure their wishes are carried out after they die. Registration online takes less than five minutes. Donor information is protected. Only authorized organ procurement organizations and tissue and eye banks can access registrant information. [Donate Life Texas website] [DSHS news release]

New Health-care Program for Children in Foster Care

HHSC is launching STAR Health, a new health-care program to improve services and better coordinate care for children in foster care. STAR Health will begin enrolling participants in March 2008. [STAR Health]

CHIP Perinatal Coverage

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) now provides prenatal care for the unborn children of low-income women who do not qualify for Medicaid. [CHIP Perinatal Coverage]

Workers With Disabilities Now Can Buy Medicaid Benefits

Texas workers with disabilities now can apply for extended health insurance benefits even if their income exceeds traditional Medicaid limits.

"Under the traditional program, a worker who has a disability sometimes had to choose between a higher-paying job without insurance or staying in a lower-paying job to keep their Medicaid coverage," said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. "This new program eliminates that difficult decision and allows workers to earn more without the fear of losing their health-care coverage." [Medicaid Buy-In]

Consolidated Budget and Legislative Appropriations Requests  

Fiscal Years 2008-09 Consolidated Budget and Legislative Appropriations Requests for the state's health and human services agencies: