Texas’ Choices for $116 Billion Healthcare Contracts Likely OK

Texas’ state agency that operates low-income health care programs for children properly ended longstanding partnerships with three plans and awarded $116 billion in contracts to four others, a majority of justices on the statewide intermediary court suggested during oral arguments Thursday.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission enjoyed wide discretion in vetting contract proposals before choosing Aetna, Molina, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, the justices said.

Chief Justice Scott Brister was the most pointed of the justices on the Court of Appeals, Fifteenth District, in defending the commission’s choices.

“How in the world is that ...