Thousands of children may lose health coverage

Fewer Medicaid applications have been returned, state agency spokeswoman says.

In January, 72,000 fewer children could be enrolled in Medicaid than in December, according to preliminary numbers from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The majority of the decline is concentrated around Houston, the part of the state most affected by Hurricane Ike three months ago, said commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman . The children still have coverage through the end of December, and the commission is examining the cause of the "significant decline," she said.

"It really is too early to tell," she said. She added that the commission received a lower than usual number of application packets, which families receive in the mail and send back to the state.

She said agency officials hope to know by Monday "whether we need to take some additional action."

For example, she said, the commission may extend children's coverage for Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program. About 1.7 million Texas children are enrolled in Medicaid.

The hurricane is a factor because the state had to close several enrollment offices after the storm, and when they reopened, they were "besieged" with emergency food stamp applications, Goodman said.

Advocates for low-income Texans called on the state to take immediate action to ensure that eligible children aren't dropped from Medicaid.

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike and a worsening economy, it's critical that safety net programs are operating as efficiently as possible so that struggling families can get the help they need," said Barbara Best, Texas executive director of the Children's Defense Fund.

cmaclaggan@statesman.com; 445-3548