​​

In this issue:

State Updates

• State Urging Faster Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines
• Texas "Vaccination Hubs" Created to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines
• The Texas 87th Legislative Session Reconvenes on January 12th
• Bills Filed Would Create State Health Literacy Plan 
• Trauma Informed Care Training and Education Bills Filed
• Pandemic Draws Attention to Vaccines 
• State Comptroller Releases Biennial Revenue Estimate

Federal Updates

• Second Round of Stimulus Checks on Their Way

COVID-19 News

• Scientists Debate Administering Half Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

___________________________________________________________________________________________

State Updates

State Urging Faster Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines

Texas hospitals and healthcare providers are being urged by the state to administer ongoing shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines more promptly to eligible community residents. The vaccine distribution for Week 5 will provide vaccines to 234 healthcare providers across the state. 

Individuals who meet the criteria for vaccine eligibility can refer to the Vaccine Provider Location Map for access to the vaccine. The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, a program that began to administer vaccines to staff and residents at 770 long-term care facilities, will be receiving 121,875 doses. Healthcare providers across Texas can also expect to receive 500,000 doses to be administered to individuals who are scheduled to receive their second vaccine dose. The Texas Hospital Association is currently in the process of producing digital messages for its hospital members to communicate vaccine procedures and availability to the public.

Vaccine allocations for Week 6 will be intended for healthcare providers who have not yet received vaccines or are located in rural communities. Current data show that there are 13,397 COVID-19 Texas hospitalizations, with only 8,687 hospitals beds and 614 intensive care unit beds available in Texas. Additional case counts and hospital data can be found here. Since vaccine supply is limited, DSHS encourages healthcare providers to administer the vaccines promptly to priority populations and report those doses to the state’s immunization registry, ImmTrac2.

Texas “Vaccination Hubs” Created to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

Roughly 158,825 COVID-19 vaccines will be received by large “vaccination hubs” this week across Texas. These “vaccination hubs” are known for their ability to vaccinate up to 100,000 individuals, which alleviates the strain from rising positive COVID-19 cases. A list of the identified 28 providers categorized as a hub can be found here. 

These hubs will also be responsible to continue vaccine administrations to group 1A, which includes healthcare workers, and members in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. As of late December, state officials encouraged hospitals to begin vaccine distribution to members in group 1B, which includes individuals who are 65 and older, and people with an increased risk of infection from existing medical conditions. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deliver 38,300 doses to 104 providers statewide. This brings the total to 222 counties expected to continue vaccine distribution in Texas. As of Jan. 7^th, at least 475,000 Texans have received their first vaccine dose and 6,500 Texans have received the required two doses. State officials encourage the practice of COVID-19 safety precautions as vaccine supply is yet to meet demand.

The Texas 87th Legislative Session Reconvenes on January 12th

At 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 12^th the Texas legislature officially gaveled in the 87^th Legislative Session in Austin for the biennial, 140-day legislative session. Both the House and Senate have developed safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and last week’s protest at the US Capitol.

Individuals planning to enter the Capitol were expected to receive a mandatory COVID-19 test as advised by the Department of Public Safety. Lawmakers were directed to invite fewer guests than in past sessions and House members were required to wear face masks on the House floor as forms of added safety measures. The legislative session kicked off with the confirmed election of Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) as the new House Speaker. In the Senate, Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) was also unanimously elected president pro tempore of the Senate. This position is usually held by senators who have the longest tenure. Some items that can be expected to be on the state’s priority discussion list include redistricting, crafting a two-year state budget and measures to tackle the pandemic. To date, 1,423 bills have been filed by legislators. For access to the 87^th legislative session livestream, click here.

Bills Filed Would Create State Health Literacy Plan  

Health literacy continues to be an important priority for Methodist Healthcare Ministries this legislative session. Ensuring that all individuals have the capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand basic health information to make appropriate health decisions for themselves empowers patients to advocate for good health. 

In the Senate, Senate Bill 124 has been filed by Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas). As drafted, SB 124 would add health literacy to the statewide health literacy plan and establish an advisory committee composed of representatives of relevant stakeholders, including physicians, hospitals, and nurses. The committee would develop a long-term plan focusing on identifying the primary factors contributing to low health literacy in the state, examine the methodologies of healthcare providers, the effectiveness of using quality measures in state health programs, and examine the impact that improved health literacy could have on patient safety. House Bill 578, a companion bill to SB 124, has been filed in the House by State Representative John Turner, (D-Dallas).

Trauma Informed Care Training and Education Bills Filed

This session, Methodist Healthcare Ministries will be supporting a number of bills that aim to establish Trauma Informed Care training and education requirements for public school curriculum, judges and attorneys that practice family law, and foster parents.

House Bill 564 by Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio) would require foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship care-givers to complete a trauma informed care training course. Rep. Lopez has also filed House Bill 565 which would place training requirements on certain judges and attorneys that represent the state in a suit seeking the termination of a parent-child relationship or appointment of a conservator. Their training will be focused on the effects of trauma on children. Additionally, House Bill 566 by Rep. Lopez further outlines the requirements of trauma informed care training for certain attorneys. Any attorney who is acting as attorney ad litem for a child in a child protection case will only be qualified to represent the child after completing three hours of continuing legal education relating to the representation of a child each year.

In the Senate, Senate Bill 123 by Senator Nathan Johnson would require the development of public-school curriculum that is focused on the inclusion of social and emotional skills. This would include the development of student’s character traits, such as integrity, respect, reliability, and more. The bill would apply to students K-12 and aims to create a culture of respect and empathy for youth in their formative years.

Pandemic Draws Attention to Vaccines 

The focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing search for a life-saving vaccine has directed our attention to the importance of all vaccines and the historic role they have played in eliminating fatal diseases over our lifetime. 

Lawmakers have filed a number of immunization bills for the upcoming 87^th Legislative Session, including the need to expand our current registry system as well as require all students to be immunized against meningococcal meningitis.

House Bill 325 by Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) would allow for the development of a state immunization registry for the purposes of public health research. By developing a robust data infrastructure, the state will be better equipped to manage public health emergencies in the future. Immunizing students against meningococcal meningitis is the goal of House Bills 516, 591, and Senate Bill 138, all relating to the requirement of Texas students to be fully immunized against meningococcal meningitis and provide these records to the school district.

State Comptroller Releases Biennial Revenue Estimate

On January 11th, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar gave the biennial revenue estimate for the 2022-23 state budget. Comptroller Hegar shared that Texas find itself in unprecedented circumstances this year in developing state budget estimates. Before the pandemic, the state was maintaining $4.8 billion in general funds and state tax revenue was running ahead as well, poising Texas for another surplus year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an enormous economic toll on the state. Travel, hospitality, and dining services that make up a large portion of the state’s tax revenue have taken a major hit. Texas employment peaked in February and rebounded slightly in May, but the state is currently maintaining a loss of more than 500,000 jobs and claims for unemployment benefits remain high. Despite the current economic climate, Hagar is forecasting economic growth in the next biennium as the state continues to slowly moves toward recovery, fueled by the recent approval and distribution of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Comptroller Hegar estimated that the state will maintain a balance of $112.53 billion in total revenue for general purpose spending, after the $5.83 billion in revenue reserved for transfer to the Economic Stabilization and State Highway Fund, as well as the transfer of $270 million to the Texas Tomorrow Fund. To view the slides used during the press conference click here.

Federal Updates

Second Round of Stimulus Checks on Their Way

The Treasury Department and IRS are expected to distribute roughly eight million stimulus payments in the form of either an Economic Impact Payment via prepaid debit card, direct deposit or check by mail. Millions of Americans can expect to receive their second round of payments of up to $600 through January 15.

People who qualify for a second round of stimulus payments in the amount of $600 include adults who earn no more than $75,000 and each child under the age of 17 filed as dependents. Individuals can expect to receive prepaid debit cards or checks in the mail if the Treasury does not have their banking information on file. The Treasury also noted that individuals will be able to get replacement cards without fees, if needed.

Supplemental unemployment payments in the amount of $300 will also be distributed to qualifying individuals for up to 11 weeks. Payments will be sent in white envelopes displaying the Treasury Department’s seal in response to confusion experienced by taxpayers in the first round who thought the payments were a possible scam. 

Although the president and U.S. House encouraged the passage of a $2,000 stimulus package, the U.S. Senate recently voted against it. With the Senate runoff elections confirmed in Georgia, resulting in an even split among both parties in the Senate, the passage of another round of stimulus checks in the amount of $2,000 or $1,400 will likely revisited by the new incoming administration

COVID-19 NEWS

Scientists Debate Administering Half Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

With allocations of both COVID-19 vaccines underway, healthcare workers and scientists believe the vaccines are not being made available fast enough. As vaccine distribution seems to have slowed down amid rising COVID-19 cases, scientists are beginning to consider other strategic tactics to fight the spread of the virus as fast as possible.

In December, federal health officials claimed that 20 million people would receive their first vaccine by the end of 2020. Yet within the first days of January 2021, only 4.2 million individuals have received their doses. In effort to make the most of the current vaccine supply, a scientific adviser from Operation Warp Speed has suggested that the Moderna vaccine be administered as half doses to Americans. Given that the COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against the virus after the first dose, by only administering half a dose, twice the number of Americans will be protected within a shorter period.

Scientists opposed to this position argue that the vaccines were created to provide maximum protection against the virus from two full doses, and there is no guarantee that the first half dose would provide adequate protection after the three to four week waiting period for a booster dose. As the spread of the new COVID-19 variant quickens, and the current vaccine rollout steadily slows, scientists are considering several options that will increase vaccine efforts.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

Back to Top

​​

In this issue:

Federal Updates

• USDA Warns of Scam Targeting SNAP Recipients
• Federal Highway Administration Proposes “Dig Once” Rule to Expand Broadband
• Deadline to Claim Federal Stimulus Payments Fast Approaching
• USDA Extends Children’s Free Meal Programs

State Updates

• Texas Walks Back Proposed Budget Cuts on Access to Care for Women and Children
• Impact of COVID-19 on Texas Nonprofit Organizations
• Get out the Vote! Resources on How to Vote in the 2020 Election

COVID-19 News

• Missing Routine Pediatric Vaccines & the Importance of the 2020 Flu Vaccine
• University of Texas Study Models Social Distancing Levels Needed to Flatten the Curve

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Federal Updates

USDA Warns of Scam Targeting SNAP Recipients

Text message scams have ramped up during the pandemic, with the latest scam targeting SNAP recipients to steal personal information. On Sept. 10, the USDA issued a notice warning SNAP recipients of fraud attempts using text messages.

The agency warned that the scam text messages were being used to steal personal information by posing as a SNAP official offering food stamps or SNAP benefits. The federal agency directed recipients of suspected scam texts to not respond and promptly delete them. Residents who are unsure if the SNAP request for information is legitimate can reach out to their local SNAP office.

Federal Highway Administration Proposes “Dig Once” Rule to Expand Broadband

A proposed new federal rule aims to efficiently coordinate broadband expansion with federal highway projects. If enacted, $126 billion could be saved in broadband deployment and expansion efforts.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has proposed a new rule to improve coordination efforts between construction of federally-funded roadways and installation of broadband technologies.

The “Dig Once” rule would mandate the inclusion of broadband conduit in road construction that would eliminate costly excavation of recently paved roads to expand broadband infrastructure. FHA reports indicate that 90% of high-speed internet installation costs lie with digging up roadways. By streamlining this coordination, FHA officials estimate improved access to broadband technology in rural areas will result.

Deadline to Claim Federal Stimulus Payments Fast Approaching

Nearly 1 million eligible Texans have yet to claim their federal stimulus payments and the Oct. 15 deadline is fast approaching.

Texans who regularly file their tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service received their stimulus payments via direct deposit or check as they would receive an income tax return. Low-income families who normally do not fill out a tax return form were required to take an additional step and file a separate online form to claim their stimulus payment. Every Texan, an MHM funded partner, has shared resources on how to get the word out to Texans to claim their stimulus checks before it’s too late.

USDA Extends Children’s Free Meal Programs

Free meal programs that normally only operate during the summer will now be allowed to continue to provide meals into the fall, thanks to a recent extension from the USDA.

Summer meal programs such as the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option are critical to children facing food insecurity during the summer school break. With many children unable to attend school due to the pandemic, the USDA issued several flexibilities that would allow such programs to continue offering meal services through the end of the year or until funds are exhausted. The meals are served in all areas, at no cost, and can be served outside of typical settings including permitting parents and guardians to pick up meals for children at home. These programs have been a lifeline for families facing financial hardships during these unprecedented times.

State Updates

Texas Walks Back Proposed Budget Cuts on Access to Care for Women and Children

In June, the Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) issued a first draft in response to State requested budget cuts. Advocates have been vocal that the proposed cuts will negatively impact programs related to women’s health, family violence, and state enrollment systems for Supplemental Nutritiop Assistance Program (SNAP), Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid.

Earlier this summer, the governor and state leadership directed state agencies to submit a plan for budget cuts up to 5% in response to the budget shortfall caused by the pandemic economic crisis. The agency stated that they assessed which areas to target based on “services directly impacting short-term mortality were prioritized over long-term health benefits; and services with limited impact on the direct health and well-being of Texans were prioritized last.”

In response, Texans Care for Children – a Methodist Healthcare Ministries Funded Partner – submitted a letter to state leadership in defense of the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Respite Care program slated to be among the cuts. The ECI program offers services to families with “children with developmental delays, disabilities or certain medical diagnoses that may impact development.” As a result of these advocacy efforts, HHSC announced on Sept. 8 that ECI funding would not be eliminated in the proposed budget cuts.

The following week, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced that they were rescinding the originally proposed cuts of $15 million to health and safety net programs in favor of making cuts to agency administrative budgets to meet the mandated budget reductions. 

While this is good news, the agency is still anticipating a negative impact on the effectiveness and quality of services provided as a result of the amended proposal’s budget cuts.

Impact of COVID-19 on Texas Nonprofit Organizations

A recent report from United Ways of Texas illustrates the impact of COVID-19 on nonprofit organizations and the ramifications for the communities they serve.

In a joint effort, United Ways of Texas and OneStar Foundation administered a statewide survey of 501(c)(3) organizations to better understand the full impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on nonprofits and the communities they serve.

Unsurprisingly, organizations across the state consistently reported that the pandemic had crippled their sector’s ability to sustain their workforces and ability to provide critical services. Organizations also reported that they and the communities they serve need flexible financial resources at this time.

To ensure that Texas’s nonprofit sector withstands the pandemic and can continue in its important role in the state, the report recommended that nonprofits, funders, businesses and governments work together to mitigate both short and long-term impacts of the pandemic on the sector and the communities they serve. Additionally, the report stated that Texans must advocate for key decision-makers to include solutions for nonprofits and strengthen the resilience of served communities.

Get out the Vote! Resources on How to Vote in the 2020 Election

During the ongoing public health crisis, getting to the polls has become more difficult for voters across the state. Resources to help get out the vote are here to help to ensure you feel safe casting your ballot this November.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure your vote is cast this year.

1. Find out if you are already registered to vote – verify that you are registered to vote and all of your information is up-to-date. You can check online here.
2. Register to Vote– if you have not yet registered to vote or must re-register to vote in a new location, you can pick up a voter registration application at your library, any government office or download one from here. Mail your completed application to the Voter Registrar in your county. A voter registration certificate or card will be mailed with your name, address and the precinct number you will vote in. The last day to register to vote in Texas is Oct. 5.
3. Voting– you can check your local newspaper for polling place locations for your precinct or search online here. On Election Day, you must arrive at the polling site between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to cast your ballot – note that the hours may differ depending on the polling site. You will be required to provide one of seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification. If you don’t possess one of these forms of identification, you may show a supporting form of identification to the election official.

Here is a listing of upcoming important election dates to mark your calendar. More information on how to vote by mail-in ballot can be found here.

COVID-19 NEWS

Missing Routine Pediatric Vaccines & the Importance of the 2020 Flu Vaccine

A report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released in May, found a troubling drop in routine childhood immunizations, the result of families adhering to public health guidance to limit unnecessary exposure to and spread of COVID-19.

The CDC report tallied cumulative doses and differences in the Vaccines for Children (VCF) – funded vaccines ordered by healthcare providers between January and April. VCF is a national program that provides federally purchased vaccines to approximately 50% of U.S. children. The results indicated a sizable decrease in vaccine orders in early March following the national public health emergency declaration.

Keeping up with childhood vaccine schedules is important to children’s health and in some cases is necessary for vaccine efficacy. Vaccine interruptions and delays could also result in the spread of preventable infectious diseases, especially as schools and businesses begin reopening across the country.

Public health officials are urging individuals to receive their annual flu shot as soon as possible. While it is always a good preventative measure against the spread of the flu, this year’s vaccine could have the added benefit of preventing overloading hospital systems given that symptoms for both the flu and COVID-19 are very similar. Officials have also noted that it is possible to be concurrently infected with both influenza and COVID-19 which could add further strain to health care systems, especially in the event of another surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

To navigate how to receive your flu shot, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccine Finder.

University of Texas Study Models Social Distancing Levels Needed to Flatten the Curve

Researchers have released projections on the level of social distancing required to effectively “flatten the curve” in 22 of Texas’ major metropolitan areas. .

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found that Texans reducing their social interactions by 50% was not enough to reduce the current surges in COVID-19 hospitalizations overwhelming hospital capacities in metro areas across the state. Instead, the study from a UT professor of Integrative Biology and Statistics, indicated that it would take individuals reducing social interactions by 90% to have any meaningful impact on the cases curve. Health experts continue to encourage residents to observe social distancing practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and overloading of healthcare systems.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

Back to Top

​​

In this issue:

Federal Updates

• Missouri Expands Medicaid
• HHS Expands Access to Childhood Vaccines
• Census Bureau Halts Counting Operation a Month Earlier than Expected

State Updates

• Flu Vaccine is Essential Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Governor Abbott Provides Update on PPE Distribution to Texas Schools
• Legislators Urge Governor Abbott to Create Statewide Complete Count Committee

COVID-19 News

• COVID-19 Cases in U.S. Children on the Rise
• U.S. in “New Phase” of Coronavirus Pandemic
• National Call for Individuals Who Have Recovered From COVID-19 to Donate Blood Plasma

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Federal Updates

Missouri Expands Medicaid

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion to close a large coverage gap for approximately 230,000 low-income residents. With 53% of voter approval, Missouri has become the sixth Republican-led state where voters have expanded Medicaid and the second to expand during the COVID-19 pandemic. .

The expansion of Medicaid will cover more lives and protect Missouri hospitals from devastating budget cuts, which ultimately result in the loss of jobs and health care services for everyone. In just the past six months, hospitals have either cut or kept vacant more than 3,000 jobs statewide. Expanding Medicaid will bring back these jobs and create thousands more for the state of Missouri. The ballot measure adds Medicaid expansion into the state constitution and requires Missouri to expand Medicaid by next July, and formally notify the federal government by March 1. Missouri is now the 38th state to expand Medicaid.

HHS Expands Access to Childhood Vaccines

On Aug. 19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a third amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to increase access to lifesaving childhood vaccines and decrease the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks as children across the United States return to daycare, preschool and school. .

A May 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report found a troubling drop in routine childhood immunizations as a result of families staying at home. This decrease in childhood-vaccination rates is a public health threat and a collateral harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While subjected to several requirements, the amendment authorizes state-licensed pharmacists (and pharmacy interns acting under their supervision to administer vaccines, if the pharmacy intern is licensed or registered by his or her state board of pharmacy) to order and administer vaccines to individuals ages three through 18 years. Expanding access to childhood vaccines will prevent additional strains on the healthcare system and any further increase in avoidable adverse health consequences– particularly if such complications coincide with an additional resurgence of COVID-19.

Census Bureau Halts Counting Operation a Month Earlier than Expected

On Aug. 3, the U. S. Census Bureau announced the collection period for the U.S census has been cut short by one month, from October 31 to September 30. The shortened collection period coupled with the limitations presented by the current COVID-19 crisis make self-reporting a critical civic duty. Particularly problematic will be conducting in-person counts in minority communities as well as of students on college campuses, seniors in assisted living facilities and people experiencing homelessness. Not only are these groups at high risk for infection, they're also among those most in need of in-person outreach. .

Conducted every 10 years, the census is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funding are spent. Schools, roads, healthcare and other important programs in our community will gain — or lose — funding over the next 10 years, depending on this official population tally.

The Census Bureau will be conducting several outreach measures including phone calls, sending out a 7th Mailing/Paper Questionnaire, and emails to the lowest responding tracts. Additionally, the non-response follow-up anticipates 500,000 enumerators in the field. Standards have been set to ensure safety. If census takers visit your home, they will never ask to enter your home; they will identify themselves and wear a U.S Census Bureau badge; they will only ask questions that are on the questionnaire; and they will never request additional documentation. The 2020 Census does not ask about citizenship or status and will continue to count everyone.

Click here to respond to the 2020 U.S Census

State Updates

Flu Vaccine is Essential Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

On Aug. 6, Governor Greg Abbott held a roundtable with medical experts, state legislators, and state agencies to discuss Texas' approach to flu season as the state and the country continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been long feared that the U.S. could see an even worse surge of COVID-19 infections in the fall because of flu season, but whether that actually plays out could be up to Texans. .

During the roundtable, leaders focused on the importance of flu vaccines and discussed proactive strategies the state can utilize to mitigate the spread of both COVID-19 and the flu in our communities. Governor Abbott noted that getting COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations under control is key before flu season arrives. Flu cases normally begin to increase in October, with activity peaking between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texans should continue to practice social distancing, wearing masks and limiting social interactions. As for preventing a severe flu season, leaders emphasized the importance of getting a flu vaccine as early as possible this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, noted that this year’s flu vaccine has proven to be very effective in the Southern Hemisphere during its flu season.

State lawmakers have reasons to be concerned. If COVID-19 is not contained by the fall, and the flu season turns out to be a prolific one, hospital systems will continue to be overwhelmed in the coming months and personal protective equipment could become scarce. Nonetheless, a mild flu season is possible if Texans get their flu vaccines promptly and continue to practice safety measures like social distancing and wearing masks

Governor Abbott Provides Update on PPE Distribution to Texas Schools

On Aug. 4, Governor Abbott visited the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s (TDEM) Warehouse in San Antonio where he provided an update on the state’s distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Texas school districts for the 2020-2021 academic year. In preparation for the new school year, the state had distributed to schools more than 59 million masks, 24,000 thermometers, 565,000 gallons of hand sanitizer and 500,000 face shields. .

The Governor also discussed the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) guidance for school openings—noting that local school boards have the ability to determine how and when to open for in-person instruction, not local governments. Under the state's guidance, local health officials can only intervene if there is an outbreak once students return to campus, at which point they can temporarily shut down a school. Even so, Governor Abbott stressed that the policy does not mean local health authorities cannot be involved in the reopening process. Local school boards remain free to consult with the health experts. As Texas approaches the school year, the state will continue to purchase and distribute PPE at no cost to the districts.

Legislators Urge Governor Abbott to Create Statewide Complete Count Committee

On Aug. 18, fifty-four members of the Texas House of Representatives sent Governor Abbott a letter urging him to create a statewide Complete Count Committee by August 30th. Currently Texas’s response rate is 6.1 points behind its final 2010 rate and experts estimate that Texas could face an undercount of over 1.49% (around 437,000 Texans) because of the new census deadline. .

In past years, Texas has endured the tangible consequences of a population undercount in the decennial census. An undercount of even 1% could result in a significant loss in federal funding for Texas of at least $300 million per year for the entire decade and could be the difference between two or three new Congressional seats. In the letter, legislators highlight efforts that had been made by former Texas Governors to achieve an accurate census count and encouraged Governor Abbott to follow their example.

COVID-19 NEWS

COVID-19 Cases in U.S. Children on the Rise

The CDC issued a new report this month on the impact of COVID-19 on children who are hospitalized with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. An analysis of pediatric COVID-19 hospitalization data from 14 states found that although the cumulative rate of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations among children (8.0 per 100,000 population) is low compared with that in adults (164.5), one in three hospitalized children was admitted to an intensive care unit. These findings confirm that children are very much at risk for severe COVID-19 and call on public health authorities and clinicians to continue to track these infections and reinforce prevention efforts, especially in congregate settings such as child care centers and schools. .

Another recent report from The American Academy of Pediatrics and The Children’s Hospital Association found that there has been a 90% increase in COVID-19 cases in U.S children over the past four weeks. Multiple factors have led to a recent increase in the number of coronavirus infections in children in the past couple of weeks, including increased testing, increased movement among children and a rise in infection among the general population.

In Texas, the number of COVID-19 tests administered has fallen sharply in recent weeks, while the rate of people testing positive has risen, a trend that has worried public health experts as officials consider sending children back to school. Governor Abbott shared most recently that the Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating.

U.S. in “New Phase” of Coronavirus Pandemic

Dr. Deborah Birx, U.S Global Aids Coordinator & Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, warned recently that the ‘U.S is in a new phase’ of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Birx stated that what we are seeing today is much different from March and April; the virus is now extraordinarily widespread. .

Birx stressed the importance of following health recommendations, especially to those living in rural areas. Currently, we are seeing the second wave of COVID-19 devastating our rural communities. As states move closer and closer toward re-opening, Brix continues to stress the need to stop “super spreading events.” Like other public health officials, Dr. Birx is suggesting that each state needs a dramatically tailored approach with a set of guidelines based on what we are seeing at the community level. When asked if schools in states with a 5% positivity rate should remain closed or have distanced learning, Dr. Birx stated: “If you have high caseload and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to have large spreading events, we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this pandemic under control.” While deferring to current CDC guidelines regarding the reopening of schools, Dr. Birx suggested that it is still too early for students to safely return to classroom learning.

National Call for Individuals Who Have Recovered From COVID-19 to Donate Blood Plasma

The federal government recently announced a national call to action and campaign to encourage individuals who recover from COVID-19 to donate their plasma, which may contain antibodies that could help other patients fight the virus. As part of the effort, HHS released several public service announcements featuring public health experts. The Fight Is In Us campaign seeks to dramatically increase convalescent plasma donations by the end of August. .

In Bexar County, the South Texas Blood & Tissue center announced that Carabin Shaw PC and Wyatt Law Firm PLLC are providing $50,000 each in gift cards to encourage South Texans who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate convalescent plasma. These plasma donations will be used to treat patients with active cases. Nationally, blood centers collecting convalescent plasma are looking to double the 100,000 doses given to patients so far by the end of August. The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center provided more than 4,400 of those doses.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

Back to Top

​​

In this issue:

Federal Updates

• Congress Introduces Child Care is Essential Act
• Racial Health Disparities Exposed During COVID-19
• Telehealth Expansion Proposal Introduced in the Senate

State Updates

• Governor Greg Abbott Announces Cecile Young as Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• Early Voting Period Extended for November 3rd Election
• State Broadband Fund for Rural Areas is Falling Short
• HHSC Announces Extension of Automatic SNAP Renewals
• Medicaid and CHIP Providers Urged to Apply for Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds
• State Extends Medicaid and CHIP Flexibilities through October 

COVID-19 News

• Study Finds Children May Carry Coronavirus at High Levels
• Population Point Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2
• Texas A&M Tapped to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Federal Updates

Congress Introduces Child Care is Essential Act

On May 27, several U.S. Representatives introduced the “Child Care is Essential Act” to support child care providers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. According to analysis from the Center for American Progress, the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a permanent loss of nearly 4.5 million child care slots, leaving millions of families without the child care they need to return to work. 

The Child Care Is Essential Act would create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to provide grant funding to child care providers to stabilize the child care sector and support providers to safely reopen and operate. The measure would provide the funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program as an emergency appropriation. Grants would be available to licensed, regulated or registered child care providers that are currently open or temporarily closed due to COVID-19, regardless of whether they had previously received funding through the CCDBG. 

As communities across the country move toward reopening and parents go back to work, it is more important than ever to ensure child care providers are supported to open their doors and continue serving their communities.

Racial Health Disparities Exposed During COVID-19 

On July 21, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing that focused on COVID-19’s disproportionate health impacts on racial and ethnic minority communities. According to a New York Times analysis, Black and Latino residents are infected with the virus at three times the rate of their white neighbors and are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19. 

Expert witnesses from various regions in the country provided testimony that addressed the reality of health disparities in America. The experts’ diverse background in health care provided the committee with solutions from different perspectives on how to bring about health equity for all Americans, amid the pandemic and for the future. 

Telehealth Expansion Proposal Introduced in the Senate

As the popularity and necessity for telehealth services continues to expand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has boosted funding and streamlined access to telehealth for Medicare recipients for the duration of the pandemic. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has responded to this need by releasing a proposal to expand telehealth services on a permanent basis. 

Wyden’s proposal would make those changes permanent, giving Medicare recipients the option to use telehealth for medical visits and mental health services. Wyden stated “Telehealth allows seniors, especially those with multiple chronic conditions, to stay on top of their medical care without taking unnecessary risks or the inconvenience of leaving home.” The COVID-19 pandemic has been a trial by fire, but the experience to date has made clear that the health care system is ready for broader access to telehealth on a permanent basis.

State Updates

Governor Greg Abbott Announces Cecile Young as Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services Commission

On July 27, Governor Greg Abbott announced Cecile Young as the new Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). With over 30 years of experience in state government, Ms. Young has served in several positions for state Governors Bill Clements, George W. Bush, and Rick Perry. 

Ms. Young, who takes over in mid-August, will oversee an agency of nearly 37,000 employees as Texas battles a global pandemic and growing budget constraints. She has served as Director of the Medical Support Initiatives for the Offices of the Attorney General, as well as several other roles within the HHSC, including Acting Executive Commissioner, Chief Deputy Executive Commissioner, and Chief of Staff.

Early Voting Period Extended for Nov. 3 Election 

In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic in many Texas counties, Governor Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation to extend the early voting period for the Nov. 3 election by almost a full week. 

Early voting by personal appearance will begin Tuesday, Oct. 13, and continue through Friday, Oct. 30. The order also extends the period in which marked mail-in ballots may be delivered to the early voting office; accepting ballots before and on the day of the election. 

Governor Abbott noted that by extending the early voting period and expanding time for mail-in ballots to be hand-delivered, Texans will have greater flexibility to cast their ballots, while at the same time protecting themselves and others from COVID-19.

State Broadband Fund for Rural Areas is Falling Short

State legislators representing rural areas are joining phone companies in asking utility regulators to increase the tax on interstate telecommunications services. This fee, which is allocated to the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF), provides rural telecommunications and internet services to about 55% of the state’s rural area. Covering approximately 8,344 square miles, this geographic area is larger than nine U.S. states. 

In early June, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas recommended raising the assessment rate from 3.3% to 6.4%, which would add about a dollar a month to customers’ telephone bills. The shift from traditional landline phones to internet-based phones has cut into company billings, which in turn has cut into tax proceeds. This past March, the PUC reported that the fund was falling short by $5 million to $7 million per month. Without the tax increase, the TUSF is expected to be depleted by the end of the 2020-21 state budget.

HHSC Announces Extension of Automatic SNAP Renewals 

On July 24, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received federal authorization to extend the certifications for Texas SNAP recipients whose benefits are up for renewal in July and August, extending benefits to approximately 276,000 households who have yet to file their renewal information for July and August. The state has also received federal approval to waive the interview and other waiver requirements for new and current beneficiaries. 

On July 28, Governor Abbott also shared news that the HHSC will extend the application deadline for the Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Program to Aug. 21. P-EBT is a one-time benefit of $285 per eligible child and can be used in the same way Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits pay for groceries.

Medicaid and CHIP Providers Urged to Apply for Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds

Governor Greg Abbott and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) are urging eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance providers to apply for $15 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds before the Aug. 3 deadline. 

Applicants can receive approximately 2% of reported gross revenue from patient care. As of July 15, 2020, less than 5% of the state’s 27,351 eligible providers in Texas have applied. Failure to apply for, and secure relief funds will leave potentially billions of federal dollars otherwise available to Medicaid and CHIP providers in Texas, unused. 

State Extends Medicaid and CHIP Flexibilities through October 

On July 30, Governor Abbott announced that the HHSC is extending flexibilities to Medicaid and CHIP recipient providers through Oct. 23. 

These flexibilities were put in place to minimize face-to-face care to ensure the safety of clients and health care providers. They include extended timelines for clients to request and appeal fair hearings, the implementation of telehealth services for all managed care plans, and a suspension of requirements that out-of-state providers be licensed in the state where they are practicing. The extension also waives CHIP office visit copayments for all members for services provided from March 13, and physicians can temporarily use telemedicine for Texas Health Steps (THSteps) medical checkups of children older than 24 months through Oct. 23. In addition, physicians’ and providers’ Medicaid revalidation due dates will be extended 30 calendar days to prevent disenrollment. You can view your revalidation status on the Provider Information Management System (PIMS).

More information of Medicaid and CHIP flexibilities can be found here.

COVID-19 NEWS

Study Finds Children May Carry Coronavirus at High Levels

As the conversation on back to school policies continue, the narrative that young children are mostly spared by the coronavirus and don’t appear to spread it to others is now being challenged by a study recently introduced by Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The study found that children younger than age five may host up to 100 times as much of the virus in the upper respiratory tract as adults. 

Dr. Heald-Sargent and her colleagues tested three mild/asymptomatic age groups: 46 children younger than age five, 51 children age 5 to 17, and 48 adults age 18 to 65. The study found that the older children and adults had similar cycle thresholds, C.T’s, with a median of 11 ranging up to 17. Children younger than five however, had significantly lower C.T’s of about 6.5. The lower value suggests that the children’s samples were teeming with the virus.

Population Point Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2

On July 24, The CDC released a report on population point prevalence of COVID-19 in Indiana. The report looked at active infections and past infections. Point prevalence of active infection at the time of testing was less than 2%; 44% of those people reported no symptoms two weeks before testing. 

The overall prevalence of current and previous infections of SARS-CoV-2 in Indiana was 2.79%. Greater prevalence’s were observed among Hispanic individuals and those who reported having a household contact who had previously been told by a health care provider that they had COVID-19. By late April, the number of past infections was 9 – 10 times higher than the number of reported, confirmed cases. The number of reported cases grossly underestimates the number of people who are estimated to be infected.

Given that many individuals remain susceptible, adherence to evidence-based public health mitigation measures (e.g., social distancing, consistent and correct use of face coverings, and hand hygiene) is needed to reduce surge in hospitalizations and prevent morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

Texas A&M Tapped to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine

The federal government continues to award more contracts for the production of vaccines. On July 27, the Texas A&M University System was tapped by the federal government to mass produce COVID-19 vaccines. 

Texas A&M’s plan for COVID-19 vaccine will include nontraditional vaccinators, and plans are underway to ensure Texas can handle the volume of needed vaccinations and follow forthcoming guidance on prioritization. Texas A&M joins Pfizer, which has been contracted to produce 100,000 vaccines and Moderna, which has recently entered into phase three for its clinical trials.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

Back to Top

​​

In this issue:

Federal Updates

• Federal Stimulus Package Continues to be Negotiated
• Pfizer Secures Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Contract for 100 Million Doses
• States Getting Pressure from Feds to Reopen Schools

State Updates

• Texas Comptroller Projecting $4.6 Billion Shortfall for FY 2021
• U.S. Census Bureau Survey Data Highlights COVID-19’s Disparate Impacts on Texan
• State’s HHSC SNAP Incentive Study Group Begins Work on Pilot
• Senator Judith Zaffirini Hosts “Distanced but not Isolated: Maintaining Mental Health During the COVID – 19 Pandemic.”

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Federal Updates

Federal Stimulus Package Continues to be Negotiated

Provisions for the next round of federal stimulus spending continue to be negotiated in the Senate in what Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is calling CARES 2. As the additional $600 unemployment benefit period draws to a close this week for nearly 3 million Texans, negotiations between Democratic and Republican Party leaders as to the cost and scope of the next stimulus package are projected to be around $1 trillion. The Trump administration has supported the implementation of a payroll tax cut and a second stimulus check, but senate republicans worry that doing both may be too costly.

After the first week of negotiations, an agreement was reached to establish financial assistance to schools, funding toward testing and tracing, and favoring a second round of stimulus checks over a payroll tax cut. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the stimulus check in CARES 2 will match the stimulus check in the first Cares Act, a $1,200 one-time payment to all Americans who earn less than $75,000, including $500 for each dependent. Republican lawmakers are also set to propose a flat unemployment benefit of $100-$200 per week with benefits lasting through the end of the year. As the moratorium on evictions set by the Cares Act expired July 24, Republicans are set to repeat this figure, or even extend it. 

Pfizer Secures Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Contract for 100 Million Doses

On Wednesday, July 23, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense announced a $1.95 billion contract with Pfizer to develop 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. This contract also gives the federal government the ability to acquire an additional 500 million doses as part of the “Operation Warp Speed” initiative launched by the Trump administration in May.

If the vaccine is successful and receives EUA or licensure, the HHS would begin nationwide delivery in the final quarter of 2020. More importantly, the Pfizer vaccine would be available to all Americans at no cost. To date, the federal agency has announced up to $1.2 billion in support of AstraZeneca’s candidate vaccine, with the first doses scheduled to be delivered as early as October 2020. An additional investment of $483 million has been made in support of Moderna’s candidate vaccine scheduled Phase 1 trials in March. Finally, the HHS has also reached an agreement totaling $456 million with Johnson & Johnson for its candidate vaccine that is scheduled to begin Phase 1 clinical trials sometime this summer.

Currently, Pfizer still needs to complete a large Phase 3 clinical trial to show the efficacy of the vaccine. The $1.95 billion investment in Pfizer is the latest news on the ongoing efforts to quickly and safely release a COVID-19 vaccine.

States Getting Pressure from Feds to Reopen Schools

As the new school year approaches, state lawmakers are facing a difficult decision between reopening school facilities and risking exposure to students, faculty and staff, or keeping doors closed to millions of children.

Pressures from the federal government are pushing states toward full reopening, but as many as 39 states are still recording growing COVID-19 caseloads. This growth has prompted many school districts to announce that they would rely mostly, if not exclusively, on online learning platforms. The standard of 5% daily infection rate set by the CDC to effectively control the spread of COVID-19 has become the accepted metric for school districts to safely return to normal operation.

Here in Texas, school systems will be able to temporarily limit access to on-campus instruction for the first four weeks of school. After the first four weeks, a school system can continue to limit access to on-campus instruction for an additional four weeks, if needed. To ensure that all Texas students have access to their virtual classroom, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Speaker Bonnen, Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee Chairs announced that the State of Texas will allocate $200 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the purchase of eLearning devices and home internet solutions to enable remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for Texas students that lack connectivity.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that “all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with the goal of having students physically present in school,” the association has also stated that “schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 should not be compelled to reopen against the judgement of local experts.” In the meantime, the CDC has released guidelines for school districts that are returning to full and partial capacity to ensure that the spread and transmission of COVID-19 can be managed as schools phase back into full capacity. 

State Updates

Texas Comptroller Projecting $4.6 Billion Shortfall for FY 2021

On July 20, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a revised revenue estimate that projects a budget deficit of $4.58 billion at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. This marks a decrease from the $2.89 billion surplus originally projected in October 2019.

Hegar stated in a letter to state leadership that Texas will have $110.19 billion in general revenue, a decrease from the original projection of $121.76 billon. Hegar attributes this revised budget deficit to the impact of COVID-19 on the state economy; consumer spending makes up the largest portion of general revenue for the state. Hegar also attributes losses to the volatility of the oil market. The state also has an additional $8.8 billion in the Economic Stabilization Fund to lean on in the event of crisis.

Hegar clarified for lawmakers that these projections are subject to change based on the continuation and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Texas is ready for a moderate recessionary period, consumer confidence must return to boost the economic outlook of the state in the foreseeable future.

U.S. Census Bureau Survey Data Highlights COVID-19’s Disparate Impacts on Texan

Beginning April 23, the U.S. Census Bureau began conducting a weekly survey to measure the impact of COVID-19 on American households. The initial findings show massive losses in reported income and high rates of unemployment in some of Texas’s most vulnerable populations – households with children, non-college degree holders and communities of color.  

Of the first survey, 47% of respondents reported losses of income since March 13, and an additional 41% expected to see losses continue into the next four weeks. Hispanic and Black respondents reported loss of income at a rate of 60% and 57%, respectively. White and Asian respondents have reported income losses of 41% and 44%. In this same time period, roughly 8.7 million Texans were unemployed. This number has now increased to 10.1 million in the eight weeks following the initial survey.

This sharp growth in unemployment has led to even greater disparity in the percentage of Texans with health insurance. Before the declaration of the pandemic, the health insurance rate in Texas was among the worst in the U.S at 18%. As of July 10, survey data has shown approximately 20% of respondents are currently uninsured.

State’s HHSC SNAP Incentive Study Group Begins Work on Pilot

The Health and Human Services Commission’s SNAP Incentive Study Workgroup has begun to look at ways that will provide low-income Texans with better access to affordable healthy food. We’re proud to announce Stephanie Luster, grants program officer with Methodist Healthcare Ministries was selected to serve on the workgroup.

The SNAP Incentive Workgroup, established through the passage of Senate Bill 1834, will assist HHSC with the study of existing programs that incentivize the purchase of Texas-grown fruits or vegetables under SNAP and, as applicable, provide input for the establishment of a pilot program.

Per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables from 1970-2017 shows a decline in U.S produce consumption beginning around the year 2000. This trend is directly correlated to steadily increasing rates of obesity throughout the U.S., a serious concern for health care providers treating food related illnesses. The SNAP benefits program is developing a broad outreach and incentive program to improve the eating habits of low-income Texans.

The Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Program offers a dollar-to-dollar match up to $30 maximum for the purchase of fresh fruit and veggies for all SNAP beneficiaries as well as various deals and bundles to make fruit and vegetables more affordable. The agency also offers a health incentive programthat allows SNAP participants to receive an incentive of $0.30 for every $1 of SNAP benefits spent on fruit and vegetables, capped at $60 per month per household. The SNAP program is continuing to expand and develop strategies to increase accessibility of healthy food options and increase business outlook of specialty crop producers in Texas. 

Senator Judith Zaffirini Hosts “Distanced but not Isolated: Maintaining Mental Health During the COVID – 19 Pandemic.”

On July 15, State Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) hosted a webinar that brought together a panel of statewide experts to discuss how to cope with anxieties and stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel included presentations from Dr. John Burrus, psychiatrist and CEO of Metrocare; Nelson Jarrin with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Sonja Gaines, Deputy Executive Commissioner at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Texans who are experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenge because of the pandemic should contact the statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line. The support line has answered over 4,900 phone calls, and has talked with Texans from 159 counties.  

On Wednesday, July 29, Senator Zaffirini will host another webinar, “Back to School? The ABCs of Covid-19." The event will address questions that parents and caregivers may have pertaining to their child going back to school.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

Back to Top