Texas Children's Health Plan Awarded Contracts for STAR Medicaid and CHIP

HOUSTON, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Health Plan (TCHP) has been tentatively awarded managed care renewed contracts by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The contracts are for the STAR Medicaid and CHIP programs. As part of the contract, Texas Children's Health Plan will also provide CHIP perinate benefits, which include prenatal care for the unborn children of low-income women who do not qualify for Medicaid.

"We are pleased that HHSC has given our organization the opportunity to continue to offer excellent service and quality health coverage to underserved adults, pregnant women, and children in Houston/Harris and 19 surrounding counties," said Christopher Born, President and CEO. "We will continue our commitment to building a community of healthy families, and we look forward to providing access to health care for pregnant women through CHIP perinate."

Texas Children's Health Plan retained its current service areas. It will expand its STAR product to 11 additional counties. The new service areas will include:

To date, Texas Children's Health Plan serves more than 300,000 members. The new contract is effective March 2012.

About Texas Children's Health Plan

Texas Children's Health Plan was founded in 1996 by Texas Children's Hospital. It is the nation's first health maintenance organization (HMO) created just for children. Texas Children's Health Plan provides STAR/Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to pregnant women, teens, children, and adults in Houston and surrounding areas. Currently, the Health Plan has more than 300,000 members. The staff and network of more than 2,100 providers are committed to providing excellent service and patient care to Texas Children's Health Plan members. Texas Children's Health Plan is also the largest combined STAR/CHIP Managed Care Organization in the Harris County service area. For more information on Texas Children's Health Plan, go to www.TexasChildrensHealthPlan.org or call 1-800-990-8247.

News media contacts:
Osjetta Gascey-Morris, Texas Children's Health Plan
832-828-1068 or [email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Health Plan