Solid Start Towards Equitable Healthcare, but the Fight for Full Medicaid Expansion in Texas Continues
Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is proud to have played a role in securing a healthcare legislative victory for Texas families. Starting tomorrow, September 1, 2023, new mothers will benefit from extended Medicaid coverage for a full year after childbirth. This policy change marks a huge step forward in the fight for equitable healthcare access in Texas, particularly for Black mothers who have been hit hardest by the maternal health crisis.
TOP Board Member Dr. Doshie Piper shared, “Extending Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum will save lives and improve health outcomes for both mothers and their children. TOP, along with its members and allies, has been at the forefront of this fight, and we are thrilled to see our hard organizing work translate into meaningful policy change.”
Dr. Piper continued, “The significance of this policy change is especially impactful for Black mothers, who face a maternal mortality rate in Texas that is twice as high as that of white women. The root causes of this crisis are deeply entrenched in systemic inequalities, including racial bias in healthcare and inadequate access to culturally competent care providers.”
TOP SW Healthcare Organizer Ivory Howard added, “Every Texan deserves access to affordable healthcare—regardless of age, race, gender, or income level. Together, we need to continue to push for Texas to expand Medicaid and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate these health disparities.”
TOP Co-Executive Director Brianna Brown emphasized that, “We’re proud of this Medicaid policy win but there is still a long road ahead of us to transform Texas into a state where the health of all its communities, particularly Black and Latino neighborhoods, is paramount.
This legislation comes at a pivotal moment with the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency ending, which has already resulted in half a million Texans being kicked off Medicaid coverage. Previously, Medicaid benefits were limited to just 60 days postpartum. This extension aims to prevent maternal deaths and address health issues identified during pregnancy, especially crucial given that Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in Texas.
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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP)
TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.