Texas: Cuts to Therapy Services for Disabled Kids Softened

Following an outcry from dozens of state lawmakers, Texas’ top health agency announced Thursday it will make less drastic cuts than originally planned to a therapy program for children with disabilities, even if that means spending more than lawmakers budgeted for the program.

Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor said in a letter to Texas Senate leadership that his agency would work to “preserve access to care even if it means” the full budget cuts lawmakers passed this year “cannot be achieved.” The announcement comes amid expanding turmoil — including a lawsuit, vocal protests and lawmaker backpedaling — over legislative efforts to trim costs in the Medicaid-reimbursed programs. Therapy providers said the cuts would impede about 60,000 children from getting needed speech, physical, and occupational therapy.

Source/more: Texas Tribune

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.