Texas Plan to Expand Coverage to More Pregnant Women
HHS
More low-income pregnant women living in Texas will have access to critical prenatal care the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today.
The State of Texas estimates that 66,916 pregnant women will receive prenatal health care under this expansion of its State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
The State requested an expansion of coverage to pregnant women in families with incomes up to twice the federal poverty level.
Texas currently covers children from birth to age 19 with family incomes of twice the poverty level.
Today's approval expands that coverage to include prenatal care for the woman and her unborn child.
"Prenatal care is an important way to prevent many health problems that can be permanently disabling."
Under a 2003 regulation, states can offer health coverage to pregnant women without having to request an SCHIP waiver.
This allows states to implement the changes more quickly and expand coverage to children who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP coverage only after they are born.
Texas is the ninth state to adopt this policy.
