AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas health officials say they will still implement a $350 million cut in Medicaid payments for therapy services _ surprising opponents who thought they walked out of a courtroom with a victory.
An attorney for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission told a judge Wednesday morning they planned to “start over” after being pushed to the brink of legal action. But the agency later said that while the rates to providers will be reconsidered, the state will still implement the cuts.
The cuts, however, will not go into effect next week as originally planned.
Opponents say the cuts will reduce access to speech, physical and occupational therapists for more than 240,000 poor Texas residents.
Dan Richards, an attorney for groups suing over the cuts, called the agency’s intentions “absurd.”
