State rolls out revised women’s health program

A women’s health program is in effect and ready to deliver more care to more women statewide who are 15 to 44 years old and whose income is up to 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

 

Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Charles Smith, in a joint announcement on July 25, said they expect the “new and improved” Healthy Texas Women program to serve some 300,000 women, while earlier programs served 270,000 women. Participation for minors will require parental consent.

 

Nelson, current chair of the state Senate Finance Committee and former chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said 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;

 

■ Screenings and treatment for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol; and more.