Put in place 10 months ago to save the state $385 million, many doctors in the Rio Grande Valley say Health Maintenance Organizations, HMOs, are limiting patients’ access to care. The Texas Medical Association is among those hoping the 83rd Legislature can find ways to streamline the current system.
2013
Posted in
Public Education
TribLive: Williams on Guns in Schools
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams talked about possible legislation that would increase access to firearms for teachers and other school personnel.
Posted in
Energy
Ritter’s Bills Would Put $2 Billion Toward Water Projects
State Rep. Allan Ritter, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, filed two bills on Thursday that would allocate $2 billion from Texas’ Rainy Day Fund to create a fund for water-supply projects. It’s the largest amount proposed to date.
Posted in
Higher Education
In Report, University History Departments Face Scrutiny
A new report questions the history course offerings at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, which could signal the return of contentious debate over what professors should be teaching the state’s students.
Posted in
Health care
Interactive: Weighing Medicaid Expansion
As they contemplate whether to expand Medicaid, Texas lawmakers will weigh factors including enrollment growth, costs and savings, and the effects on the rate of insured. This interactive breaks down the numbers connected to those factors.
Posted in
Demographics
Immigration Lawyers: Thinking Small Can Also Help Generate Reform
Reform advocates are hoping for comprehensive changes to immigration policies, as President Obama has promised, but short of that, there are still plenty of ways to fix existing policies and arcane laws, they say.
Posted in
Demographics
Fear of Violence Still Hurting Cross-Border Tourism
Officials on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border have reported a decrease in holiday season tourism, likely due to the persistent threat of Mexican drug violence. But Mexico’s new president hopes to do something about that.
Posted in
State Government
After Positive Economic News, Push for Tax Cuts Emerges
Texas lawmakers may have $29 billion more to spend on the state budget this session than they did in 2011. Now, Gov. Rick Perry is floating the idea of tax cuts.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Report: Investing in Drug Treatment Could Save State Millions of Dollars
A new report by the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition says that rather than throwing drug addicts in jail, the state should invest more money in substance abuse treatment, which it says could save millions of dollars and improve public safety.
Posted in
State Government
Dewhurst: Set Money Aside for School Lawsuits
In a wide-ranging interview, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about the state budget, education, immigration, water, transportation, and his hopes and plans for the legislative session that began this week.