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News Releases

September 14,2009
HHSC Gets Grant to Help Employees Pay for Health Coverage
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received a $50 million grant to provide cost sharing accounts to help low-income working Texans purchase health insurance.

“What’s great about this project is that it really stretches limited taxpayer dollars to insure more Texans,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs. “The employer still covers most of the insurance cost, and the state will provide extra help to employees who may not be able to afford their portion of the premiums or the co-pays for the coverage.” [Health Coverage]

August 31,2009
Weizenbaum to Serve as Interim DADS Commissioner
AUSTIN – Jon Weizenbaum will serve as the interim commissioner for the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) while a nationwide search for the agency’s next leader continues.

Weizenbaum has served as DADS deputy commissioner since May 2006. Before that he was director for the Center for Policy and Innovation at DADS, where he was responsible for overseeing policy development and oversight, analysis and support, and quality assurance and improvement. [Interim DADS Commissioner]

August 17,2009
Increase in Annual Payment Helps Low-Income Children With School Expenses
AUSTIN – About 59,000 low-income children are receiving extra help with back-to-school expenses, thanks to the Texas Legislature.

During this year’s legislative session, state lawmakers authorized a $70 per-child increase in the annual subsidy families on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) receive to help with back-to-school costs. The increase raises the extra payment to $105 per child. [TANF]

July 20,2009
Operation Lone Star Offers Free Medical Care to South Texas Communities
AUSTIN – Operation Lone Star, which provided health care to more than 11,000 South Texas residents in just two weeks last year, is expanding this summer to provide free health clinics in even more locations.. [Operation Lone Star]

June 25,2009
Department of Aging and Disability Services Commissioner to Retire
AUSTIN ― Adelaide “Addie” Horn, commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), announced today she will retire from state service on Aug. 31, 2009.

Horn’s retirement caps a three-decade public service career that began with her employment as a direct care worker to individuals with intellectual and other disabilities and included stints managing vocational rehabilitation, regulatory and quality assurance programs, policy initiatives and direct management of services. Horn previously was the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s director of long-term care services. Before becoming commissioner on Feb. 1, 2006, Horn served as the first deputy commissioner of DADS. [DADS Commissioner]

May 22,2009
Families Can Now Apply for CHIP, Children’s Medicaid Online
Parents can now apply for state health coverage for their children from the convenience of their home computer at any hour of the day or night. A new online application for Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is now available at www.CHIPmedicaid.org. [Children's Medicaid Online]

May 14,2009
HHS Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins to Retire
AUSTIN ― Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins today officially notified the Governor of his intention to retire.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served with so many state leaders and legislators who share a passion for public service,” Hawkins said. “It has been an honor.”

As commissioner, Hawkins oversees the state’s five health and human services agencies, which have combined budgets of $25 billion a year and more than 50,000 employees. Gov. Perry appointed Hawkins to the role in January 2003. [Albert Hawkins]

March 16,2009
HHSC, Evercare Agree to Early End of ICM Contract
AUSTIN ― The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Evercare have agreed to end a contract for the Integrated Care Management (ICM) program, which provides Medicaid services to 74,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. [ICM Contract]

January 13,2009
State Creates Loan Repayment Program for Medicaid Doctors, Dentists
AUSTIN – A new loan repayment program will help Texas increase the number of doctors, dentists and specialists who provide care for children with Medicaid coverage. [Frew Loan Repayment]

January 13,2009
Molina Named Deputy Executive Commissioner for Social Services
AUSTIN – Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins has named Joanne Molina as his new deputy executive commissioner for social services.[Molina]