The Center for Children and Women is Transitioning

The Center for Children and Women will be closing on June 30, 2024, and reopening July 1, 2024 as Texas Children’s Pediatrics (TCP) Westwood.

The good news is that our current pediatric patients can continue to receive primary pediatric care, pharmacy, dental, optometry, behavioral health, speech and nutrition support at the new TCP clinic.

We will continue to deliver the same great service and support for your children. In addition, TCP Westwood will accept most insurance plans.

Women receiving OB and gynecological care at The Center will still need to transition to a new provider by June 28, 2024. Our care coordination team will be reaching out to you to assist or you can call us at the numbers below any time to request a new provider.

As we get closer to the transition, you will get more information from us and from Texas Children's Health Plan.

If you have questions about your care, please contact The Center for Children and Women at 832-828-1005.

If you have questions about your coverage, call Texas Children’s Health Plan at the numbers below:

  • 1-866-959-6555 (CHIP)
  • 1-866-959- 2555 (STAR)
  • 1-800-659-5764 (STAR Kids)

You can get more information by visiting our  frequently asked questions.

Postpartum Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Extension Update

Starting March 1, 2024. The Texas Health and Human Services (HSS) is extending its postpartum coverage from 2 to 12 months for eligible women. The 12 months of postpartum coverage begins the month after pregnancy has ended. Patients don’t need to apply to extend coverage.

Coverage will be reinstated for those who lost coverage and still fall in the eligibility period.

You should receive a notice from the state through mail or you can log into your Texas Benefits account to check your coverage.

Click here for the FAQ.

To learn more, visit the HHS Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal webpage.

Medicaid Coverage Alert

Don't lose your health coverage! We don’t want to lose you as a patient! New rules will require you to renew your Medicaid plan. Learn more

Important recall on baby and toddler powdered formula

03/15/22

Dear patients,

The Center for Children and Women supports our patients, their families, and communities by notifying them of important health information. Please continue reading to learn more about an urgent recent baby formula recall.

Due to the formula recall, you may not be able to find the formula that your baby usually takes. Below are a few resources that can help you find the formula that you need or a substitute product.

Infant Formula Safety Tips

Follow these infant formula tips to ensure the safety and health of your baby:

Choose an infant formula that's safe. For more information on choosing an infant formula that's safe, visit the CDC and FDA pages on the topic.

Don't make homemade infant formula. See the FDA's page for more information.

Do not buy formula online that comes from outside the United States. This formula could be counterfeit, for example it might have a fake label with a wrong use-by-date.

Properly prepare and store infant formula. For information on proper preparation and storage, visit the CDC's page.

Properly clean, sanitize, and store infant feeding items. Visit the CDC's page for more information.

Always wash your hands. For information on how and when to wash your hands, visit the CDC's page.

Baby Formula Recall

The Center for Children and Women received notice of an urgent recall from The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain powdered infant formulas.

The FDA is warning parents not to use the recalled products. These recalled powdered infant formulas may be contaminated with Cronobacter and Salmonella, bacteria that can cause severe illness caused by food contamination.

Which formulas are included in the recall?

The recall includes certain Similac Advance, Similac Total Comfort, Similac Sensitive, Similac for Spit-Up, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, EleCare and EleCare Jr. powdered formulas. Check the lot number on the bottom of the formula to see if it has the following:

  • The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
  • The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2; and
  • The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
  • Similac PM 60/40 with lot code 27032K80 (can) / 27032K800 (case)

If your lot number is not in this range, your lot is safe and you can continue to use the formula.

Check to see if your product is recalled: Enter the lot number on the bottom of the formula on the Abbott website. If your product is included in the recall, do not use it but do not throw it away.

What do I do if my formula is part of the recall?

If your formula is part of the recall, do not use it. A contaminated formula could make your baby very sick. Click here to obtain a refund or replacement or you can also call Similac at 800-986-8540 to get a refund or replacement. Recalled infant formula can be returned to the store for an exchange. If you received formula from WIC, you can return it to WIC for an exchange. For special formulas that require a prescription, contact your child’s healthcare provider to get a new one.

What if my formula is not available?

If your formula is not available, contact your child’s healthcare provider to talk about new feeding options.

Is there a list of other brands I can use?

For Similac Advance, Similac Total Comfort, Similac Sensitive and Similac for Spit-Up, WIC has temporarily added more options so parents can find a formula that meets their babies’ needs without updating their cards. For a list of brands that you can get with WIC, visit https://texaswic.org/about-wic/special-wic-food-updates

For Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, EleCare and EleCare Jr., contact your child’s health care provider to ask for a new prescription. Since these are special formulas, a doctor must be consulted to make sure that the new formula meets the infant’s medical needs.

Who can I reach out to for help?

If you have questions, call your child’s health care provider. If you need help in connecting with your provider or finding a provider, call us at 832-828-1005.

Facts about the Cronobacter bacteria:

  • Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine). It may also cause bowel damage and spread through the blood to other parts of the body.
    • Symptoms to watch for:
      • Poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths and abnormal movements.
  • Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis.
    • Symptoms to watch for:
      • Diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases, may become fatal.

The health of our patients is our top priority. If you have used this product and are concerned about the health of your child, please contact your child’s pediatrician. If your child has any of the above symptoms, please call your child’s health care doctor and seek medical care immediately. To learn more about Cronobacter, please visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional Resources: