The special permit, referred to as a U visa, was created by Congress specifically for victims of certain crimes who could help with criminal investigations. But petitioners must follow a lengthy, bureaucratic process to apply.
Marissa Evans
Marissa Evans reported on health and human services policy for the Tribune from 2016 to 2019. Before the Tribune she reported for CQ Roll Call in D.C., where she covered state legislatures and health care issues. Her reporting has appeared in Civil Eats, NBC BLK, Cosmo for Latinas, Kaiser Health News, The Seattle Times, The Washington Post, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Star Tribune and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. She is a 2013 alumna of Marquette University in Milwaukee.
Posted in
State Government
Texans are waiting for birth and death certificates amid health agency understaffing
The backlog — exacerbated by the state’s switch in January to a new computer system for processing records — comes as the short-staffed Texas Department of State Health Services vies for a boost in funding. Meanwhile, families anxiously wait.
Posted in
Health care
Texas lawmakers are prioritizing mental health for school safety. But advocates worry about stigma.
The newfound push this session around school safety and preventing mass shootings is reinvigorating ideas about mental health care for Texas children. But advocates often cringe when legislators make the argument that mental health care is the key to preventing mass shootings.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
A Texas legislative session without an abortion fight? Unlikely.
Despite the fact that lawmakers have so far been focused on bipartisan “bread and butter” issues like property taxes and school finance, more than a dozen abortion-related bills are circulating in the state Capitol.
Posted in
Health care
Nearly 200 people in Texas detention facilities have contracted mumps
The Texas Department of State Health Services says 186 people, including immigrants and detention center employees, were confirmed with cases of mumps since October.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Voters in four states have approved Medicaid expansion by ballot. Will Texas do the same?
Idaho, Maine, Nebraska and Utah voters approved Medicaid expansion through ballot initiatives. Now Texas legislators have filed bills for a vote over whether the state should expand coverage for the joint federal-state health insurance program.
Posted in
Health care
Texas optometrists “just roll our eyes” over treatment restrictions in the state
Amid what some call an eye care crisis, Texas optometrists are hoping the Legislature will give them more power to help patients without needing other doctors. But ophthalmologists say allowing optometrists more power would put patients’ vision at risk.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Medicaid, opioids and abortion: Health care issues to expect this Texas legislative session
Amid uncertainty about the federal health law, state legislators will tackle a variety of issues during the session, from abortion to mental health to opioids to funding for Medicaid.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Retirement and low pay caused Texas agencies to lose nearly 29,000 employees last year
Advocates for state workers are calling for increased pay after a State Auditor’s Office report released in December found that agency turnover was at 19.3 percent in the 2018 budget year. The top reasons employees said they left were retirement, better pay and benefits and poor working conditions.
Posted in
Health care
Former Texas HHSC executive commissioner named acting director for Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
Chris Traylor’s new position comes after joining the federal government in July as deputy administrator for strategic initiatives at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.