Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Charles Smith joined state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, recently to announce an extensive outreach campaign to focus awareness on the state’s new Healthy Texas Women program which will deliver more care to more Texas women statewide.
“State funding for women’s health services has reached an all-time high,” said Sen. Nelson. “We have expanded our provider network to the largest it has ever been and will continue working to make sure women all over the state can access family planning and other preventative health services.”
Recognizing the importance and need for women to have access to comprehensive healthcare services at little or no cost, the Healthy Texas Women program offers enhanced health services and expanded eligibility for women who qualify. The program combines and streamlines two of the state’s previous women’s health programs to provide a full-range of women’s health services, including:
–Pregnancy testing and counseling;
–Family planning;
–Immunizations;
–Breast and cervical cancer screenings; and,
–Screenings and treatment for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol; and more.
“We place a high priority on helping all Texas women access the comprehensive healthcare services they need, and we’re committed to helping ensure more women know what benefits are available to help them take charge of their health,” Commissioner Smith said.
To access services, Texans can visit HealthyTexasWomen.org.
Through a concerted recruitment effort, the Health and Human Services Commission also has significantly grown the number of providers who will participate in delivering women’s healthcare services. Today, more than 5,000 healthcare providers all across the state are now part of Healthy Texas Women. This is up from 3,800 providers just two years ago – a nearly 30 percent increase in providers statewide.
In addition to improving women’s health programs, HHSC is launching a comprehensive advertising and outreach campaign aimed at informing Texas women about the health services available to them. The campaign will include modernizing the website to make even easier for women to access the healthcare they need as well as outreach to healthcare providers and community groups that provide support to low-income women and families. This work will be complemented by an advertising campaign showcasing the strength of Texas women and the importance of proactively managing your health.
