For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Peter Clark, 512.417.9262

AUSTIN – Today a state appeals court dismissed a legal challenge to the state's proposed cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates for therapies for children with disabilities. Following the decision, Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children, a nonprofit multi-issue children's policy organization, released the following statement:

"This is a bad day for Texas kids. The cuts would make it harder for kids with disabilities to meet their developmental goals, whether they are trying to learn to swallow their food, communicate with their parents, or get ready to succeed in school.

"Not only would the cuts undermine critical services provided by private home health agencies, but they would also hurt the Early Childhood Intervention services that community groups provide to kids under age three with disabilities and developmental delays. As ECI services take a hit, our elementary schools should plan on providing expensive special education to more students.

"We remain hopeful that a solution can still be reached to protect children from these cuts, whether it’s through the courts, federal officials, the Health and Human Services Commission, or the Legislature.

"Legislators know that early childhood programs such as pre-k and ECI are critical to putting kids on a path to reach their potential. The Legislature needs to step up to protect these services and the kids that rely on them.”

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