Expansion of STAR+PLUS Services - 
Contact Amendment Discussions

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announces the amendment of several joint Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) health maintenance organization (HMO) contracts to include services for certain Medicaid recipients who are aged or persons with disabilities in the Bexar, Harris/Harris Expansion, Nueces and Travis service areas. 

The services offered to these enrollees are the same as those currently offered to STAR+PLUS enrollees in Harris County.  HHSC has modified the payment structure for inpatient hospital services in STAR+PLUS to comply with Senate Bill 1, Article II, Special Provisions, Sec. 49 passed during the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005. 

HHSC plans to launch these services on January 1, 2007.

The El Paso and Lubbock Service Areas will not be part of the initial expansion.  HHSC will evaluate the feasibility of expanding these services into additional service areas in the future.

The following HMOs have been tentatively selected to provide these services:

Participation of these HMOs is contingent on successful execution of the contract amendments and HHSC’s determination of readiness to provide services.