Texas Children’s Health Plan increases yearly gastrostomy button (G-button) limits

A message from Dr. Katy Ostermaier, Medical Director of STAR Kids at Texas Children’s Health Plan Texas Children’s Health Plan is pleased to announce an increase in gastronomy button (G-button) limits per year. As of February 26, 2019, we now allow 6 G-buttons to be dispensed per year. Families who have children with G-buttons can have a hard time getting the supply of replacement G-buttons needed when they break. An active child may need to replace broken G-buttons often, but Texas Medicaid only allows 2 buttons to be given out per year. This limit placed a burden on families, who often have no choice but to go to the emergency room for a new button after using up their yearly supply. Now that Texas Children’s Health Plan has increased the G-button limit to 6 per year, families can always have an emergency backup button ready to use at home. Tell your patients’ parents or caretakers to call your office after replacing a G-button to order a new one as a backup. We hope this change will help make life easier for your patients and their families!   Dr. Katy Ostermaier, MD Medical Director, STAR Kids Texas Children’s Health Plan