The decision to buck federal government guidelines was one of many that led to serious repercussions for Texas residents who rely on Medicaid. Among them were children forced to forgo or postpone lifesaving operations, doctors say.

Reporting Highlights

  • Texas Prioritized Speed: When the federal government’s pandemic-era protections ended last year, Texas moved swiftly, kicking off more people faster from Medicaid than any other state.
  • Persistent Warnings: Officials acknowledged some errors during the Medicaid unwinding, but an analysis shows that various mistakes were preventable and foreshadowed in persistent warnings.
  • Eligible People Removed: Nearly 1.4 million people who lost coverage were disenrolled for reasons like failing to return a form or completing one incorrectly, not because they weren’t eligible.