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Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD) is a member-driven organization that leads statewide efforts on governmental advocacy, public awareness activities and professional disability consulting.

In 2021, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities and its partners celebrated the passage of two Medicaid omnibus bills that each included a provision for one yearly preventative dental health visit for adults enrolled in STAR+PLUS – this is about 400,000 low-income adults with disabilities. Prior to passage, this population had no coverage for preventative dentistry through the Texas Medicaid program. However, as written, each bill includes the “Nelson amendment,” which allows the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to delay the rollout of the newly approved benefit until funding is appropriately allocated.

In 2022, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities will conduct administrative advocacy for the timely implementation of the new benefit, and following, promote the availability of the benefit to consumers. CTD will collaborate with the Texas Dental Association and the Texas Association of Health Plans to develop key advocacy messaging to share in HHSC-hosted stakeholder groups, along with direct meetings with HHSC staff. CTD will also reach out to a broad base of disability advocacy groups, including Texas Advocates, for advocacy through sign on letters and testimony to HHSC. Lastly, CTD will directly secure legislative champions to strategically engage in advocacy efforts to advance implementation.

When the benefit is fully implemented, CTD will share information about the benefit with its statewide network of disability partners, and with Texas Dental Association’s members, in order to encourage provider participation in the Medicaid program.

The budget for this proposal is $73,858. Of that, almost $60,000 is allocated toward staff time. An additional $3,000 of the budget is allocated for Texas Advocates for review of promotional materials and the remainder of the budget is associated with communications. This request represents 6% of the organization’s overall budget. CareQuest Institute has supported the CTD with grant funding totaling $359,442 since 2017.