Medicaid 1115 Waiver
The Medicaid 1115 Transformation Waiver, administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, strives to improve the effectiveness of services provided to low-income patients, who often suffer disproportionately from cancer and other chronic conditions. The federal government, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), matches funds provided by MD Anderson to support the program’s three projects.
This program gives providers a chance to find new ways to improve quality of care, health status, patient experience, coordination and cost effectiveness in regions developed throughout the State to more effectively and efficiently deliver care and provide increased access to care for low-income Texans.
MD Anderson is in the Regional Healthcare Partnership 3 (RHP 3), serving a nine-county area in the communities of Austin, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Matagorda, Waller and Wharton counties.
In order to reach populations beyond MD Anderson walls, we have collaborated with a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Spring Branch Commmunity Health Centers. Three MD Anderson community-based programs are being implemented within their clinic system. See project descriptions below.
The Office of Health Policy provides program administration support and oversight for six funded MD Anderson projects: Colorectal Cancer Screening Project, Project VALET and Skin Cancer Screening and Education (Project DERM).
Colorectal Cancer Screening Project
Low-income and underinsured patients in this region receive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) take-home tests when they get their flu shots at a participating clinic. Patients receive instructions, a reminder of the importance of screening, educational materials and contact information for questions.
Project VALET
After a clinical breast exam, uninsured, low-income or Medicaid-eligible women, ages 40 to 69, are given the phone number of our mobile mammography appointment line and information on what to expect on the day of their screening. This project increases capacity and expands the geographic coverage with the help of an additional van.
Skin Cancer Screening and Education (Project DERM)
Low-income and underinsured patients attend education sessions throughout the community on skin cancer detection and prevention. Patients are also offered free full body cancer screens by a dermatologist at participating FQHC’s.