A hotly contested rule governing telemedicine in Texas won’t immediately take effect, a federal court ruled late Friday.
Edgar Walters
Edgar Walters worked at the Tribune from 2013 to 2020, most recently covering health and human services. Before that, he had a political reporting fellowship with the Berliner Zeitung, a daily newspaper in Berlin. He is a graduate of the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as an editor for The Daily Texan. When not in the newsroom or at the Capitol, he could be found on the volleyball court, standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Resolution in Lieu of Bill
Following an emotional floor debate, the Senate passed a resolution Wednesday reaffirming the state’s opposition to same-sex marriage, an action taken as it became clear a bill to prevent such marriages in Texas was dead.
Posted in
Health care
After Day of Rules Warfare, Both Sides Claim Some Wins
A daylong parliamentary battle ensued Tuesday as the Texas House faced a crucial deadline to pass many major bills before they died. Democrats succeeded in killing an abortion bill, while Republicans managed to pass ethics reform legislation and a version of campus carry.
Posted in
Health care
Health Insurance Card Bill Clears Senate
House Bill 1514, which would add a special label to the health insurance cards of people purchasing health plans on the exchange created by the Affordable Care Act, passed the Texas Senate late Tuesday evening.
Posted in
Politics
Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Gets Another Try
A Texas Senate committee on Tuesday approved a measure that would forbid state or local governments from using public money to issue same-sex marriage licenses, reviving a proposal that died in the House earlier this month.
Posted inState Government
Texas House Approves Partial Consolidation of Agencies
The Texas House on Sunday evening tentatively approved a measure to partially consolidate the state’s massive health and human services system.
Posted in
Health care
Funding Program Shields Nursing Homes From Lawsuits
Hundreds of Texas nursing homes have transferred their ownership to local government entities in order to secure more federal Medicaid funding. Critics of the arrangement say it shields negligent nursing homes from lawsuits.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate Moves to Reform Driver Responsibility Program
The Texas Senate voted Thursday to weaken the state’s Driver Responsibility Program, which critics say unfairly penalizes poor Texans.
Posted in
Health care
More Pay for Medicaid Doctors Lost in Budget Deal
The House-Senate budget conference committee adopted its compromise on health and human services funding Wednesday, pleasing fiscal conservatives and giving little cheer to advocates for the poor and disabled.
Posted inState Government
With Hospital Funds in Question, Who’s at Risk?
As Texas negotiates with the Obama administration over how to pay for health care for the poor and uninsured, the state’s safety-net hospitals and clinics are steeling themselves for an uncertain future.
