Judge says Texas officials need to speed up foster care reforms
U.S. District Judge Janis Jack says she will give state officials until May to make progress on her orders to overhaul the state's foster care system, or face hefty fines. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Congressional Democrats urge Gov. Greg Abbott to let Planned Parenthood stay on Medicaid
Their plea comes just days after a state district judge temporarily stopped the state from excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. Full Story
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![Information and diagrams inside a medical room at a Planned Parenthood in south Austin on Jan. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
What do new variants of the coronavirus mean for Texans? And how can we best protect ourselves?
Viruses constantly change by mutating, and the coronavirus is no exception. But health experts say it's difficult to know the exact number of variants currently around the world. Full Story
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![A nurse conducts a swab test for COVID-19 on a patient in a drive-thru station at the Austin Emergency Center at Mueller on …]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas has a problem with its COVID-19 vaccination data, and the stakes are high. Now the state is scrambling to solve it.
As the state began the massive undertaking of distributing the coronavirus vaccine, early data problems left state officials with immunization records that were outdated, incomplete and sometimes misleading. Full Story
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![Staff members work in Tarrytown pharmacy in Austin on Jan. 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Texans living in long-term care facilities will be among first people eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, among others, were added to the priority list that already included hospital staff working with COVID-19 patients. Full Story
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![Members of local church group sing and pray in front of the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where many resident…]()
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How a glitchy computer system skewed Texas’ coronavirus data and hampered its pandemic response
Local health officials describe the electronic system as “cumbersome,” “archaic” and “really slow," though its performance has improved since it was upgraded in August. Full Story
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![COVID-19 patient reports are stacked after being processed by the Northeast Texas Public Health District office in Tyler. Th…]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will allow visitations at nursing homes, other long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases
Visitors previously were allowed only into long-term care facilities where there were no active cases of the virus among residents and no confirmed cases among staff members in the past two weeks. Full Story
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![Austin Retirement and Nursing Center in Austin on July 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials walk back $15 million proposed cuts to women’s and children's health services
The changes to the budget proposal come after lawmakers and advocates protested the previous plan would hurt vulnerable Texans. Full Story
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![A women’s health clinic in Texas.]()
Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune -
In shift, Texas begins publishing some data on coronavirus cases at child care centers
Without numbers on how many children or staff are in Texas child care facilities — which the state does not report — it’s hard to gauge the magnitude of infections. Full Story
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![A flurry of colors and activity, building time started the day for preschoolers at Greater Cornerstone Academy in North Dall…]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus outbreak at Houston-area nursing home kills 17 residents
The news comes as Texas resumes limited visitations in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that meet certain requirements. Full Story
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![Paramedics disinfect a gurney in their ambulance before leaving a 131-bed nursing home in Tomball. The nursing home is the s…]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Cecile Young to lead Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Young, a longtime public servant, will take the helm of an agency of nearly 37,000 employees as it navigates a worsening pandemic and a host of lingering internal problems. Full Story
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![Former Chief Deputy Executive Commissioner, Cecile Young.]()
Credit: Texas Health and Human Services Commission -
As coronavirus cases surged, Texas’ contact tracing workforce shrunk
State health officials say they have enough workers to meet current needs, but some local health departments are scrambling to keep up. With 2,800 workers, Texas is still short of the governor's goal to have 4,000 people contact tracing. Full Story
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![A Kroger pharmacist explains how to administer the self-swab test at a COVID-19 testing site in the Fifth Ward in Houston on…]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Want a coronavirus test in Texas? You may have to wait for hours in a car.
Months into the pandemic, demand for coronavirus tests is soaring. Texans report problems with almost every facet of the testing process, starting with the glitching websites and unanswered phone lines used to schedule appointments, and extending to long lags before test results come back. Full Story
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![A line of about 100 cars formed at Barbara Jordan Elementary School in Austin while waiting at a COVID-19 testing site. June…]()
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Analysis: For foster children in Texas, a state of despair
Texas isn't properly protecting the children in foster care, according to federal court monitors examining a system that's been dangerous to kids — in the view of the courts — for at least the last decade. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Years after a judge ordered fixes, Texas’ child welfare system continues to expose children to harm, federal monitors say
Two independent experts appointed to scrutinize the system described “a disjointed and dangerous child protection system ... where harm to children is at times overlooked, ignored or forgotten.” Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
As coronavirus hits Texas, the state's top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — that pays $600,000
Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson chose not to accept salary and benefits for a temporary position leading one of Texas’ largest and most high-profile agencies. Instead, he continues to earn $636,694 from the Lower Colorado River Authority, more than double what the previous health commissioner made. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will test all residents and staff in state-run homes for people with disabilities
The test kits for residents of state supported living centers have been ordered and are on their way. The agency is “working on a broader plan to get the test kits for staff," a state official said. Full Story
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![A State Supported Living Center located in Austin on April 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas is testing everyone in nursing homes for coronavirus, but not state-run homes for people with disabilities
The facilities are still only testing residents and patients who are symptomatic or were potentially exposed to the virus, despite concerns raised by employees and family members about outbreaks. Full Story
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![A State Supported Living Center located in Austin on April 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. Some Texans are still being saddled with large bills.
Congress directed most insurance companies to cover test costs for insured patients in March, and has promised to reimburse providers for testing those who are uninsured. But experts say there are gaps in the protection that can leave patients surprised with bills. Full Story
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![Mark Sonego at his apartment in Leon Springs on May 11, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas still won't say which nursing homes have COVID-19 cases. Families are demanding answers.
Citing a state medical privacy law, Texas is refusing to release the names of long-term care facilities where residents have died from COVID-19, even as those case numbers soar and families plead for information. Full Story
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![David Aguirre’s mother, Estela, died March 28 at The Waterford at College Station, an assisted living facility in Texas. His…]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune
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