Hundreds of thousands of families in Texas have been awaiting the processing of their Medicaid applications for several months. Currently, the median processing time stands at 79 days, despite a federal mandate requiring completion within 45 days. There have been numerous reports from families unable to access essential care, such as affording medical treatments for their children. Health care providers have also reported patients experiencing significant difficulties in obtaining necessary surgeries, such as those for heart conditions.
The delays became more pronounced after the federal government lifted pandemic-era protections last year. Investigations reveal that Texas hastily removed over 900,000 children from the Medicaid program for procedural reasons, such as incomplete forms filed by their families, rather than due to ineligibility.
Similarly, there is a substantial backlog in the processing of food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The state recently reported nearly 97,000 pending applications, with a median processing time of 33 days.
Efforts continue to report on the persistent issues within Texas’ social safety net and their underlying causes. Input from families waiting for benefits, particularly those experiencing medical or financial repercussions, is crucial. The aim is to highlight any failures in the system to the responsible parties, including lawmakers, advocates, and federal authorities, and to identify where the state falls short of its obligations.
Individuals are encouraged to fill out a form if:
– They have been waiting over a month for their Medicaid or SNAP application and have faced medical or financial consequences.
– They have insights about the ongoing backlogs, including issues related to IT, staffing, or funding.
– They assist others in applying for benefits, or have professional expertise in this area.
Filling out the form is the preferred method of contact. However, if more convenient, details can be shared with a reporter by phone. Individuals may indicate their preference for this on the form.
Additionally, contributions can be made by calling 602-848-9609 to leave a voice message with contact details and suitable times for follow-up. Expected call duration is approximately 10 minutes.
The privacy of all contributors is taken seriously, with shared stories used only for reporting purposes. Individuals will be contacted if their information is considered for publication.
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