The State has granted $815,000 to Community Healthcore, a provider based out of Longview, to continue ECI services. These services were previously administered through the Andrews Center. Community Healthcore will provide the same services to the same seven county service area with no changes to what clients pay. While Community Healthcore is based out of Longview, new offices will be established in the Tyler area. Previously enrolled families will not need to re-enroll or have eligibility redetermined to continue services. Community Healthcore will contact clients to re-establish services right away and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will send a letter to all families previously served by the Andrews Center.
“First, I want to say how sorry I am to the children and families who stopped receiving much-needed services. We must do better as a State. The break in services for children with special needs happened because the bureaucracy in Austin was not quick to respond when cost assumptions didn’t pan out in the real world. Predicting how much money it will take to pay for services for children with special needs is not easy, and we must always be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. But now we must learn from this experience and get it right the next time. My office has been in regular communication with the government officials who had the power to allocate additional ECI funds to East Texas. We made sure the people in Austin fully understood the impact that loss of service would have on some of our most vulnerable children in East Texas. I am pleased to say that these services are resuming in our area,” Rep. Schaefer said.
If you or your family are among those affected by these ECI services, feel free to call my office at 512.463.0584 with any questions or concerns.
