A new website and database released by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project explores the impact of cuts made in 2011 to state family-planning services, breaking down information on the county and district level.
Department of State Health Services
Posted in
Economy
Nutrition Benefits a Mixed Bag for Markets
About 50 Texas farmers markets take SNAP benefits, WIC benefits or both. The programs are not well utilized, but proponents say it’s important to provide as many healthy food options as possible for Texans who use nutrition benefits.
Posted in
Health care
Impact of Medicaid Expansion on State Budget Examined
As state legislators consider what “a Texas solution” to Medicaid expansion would look like, others have begun addressing the question of how Medicaid expansion would affect the state budget and local taxes.
Posted in
Energy
Raw Milk Bill Draws Proponents, Detractors to Hearing
Proponents and critics weighed in Wednesday on a bill that would allow the sale of raw milk at farmer’s markets and other sites like fairs and flea markets.
Posted in
Health care
Democrats Raise Questions About Texas WHP Provider List
Democratic legislators are questioning whether the Texas Women’s Health Program has an adequate network of health care providers in light of a state agency’s decision to pull the list of providers from a state website.
Posted inState Government
State of Mind: Valley Physicians Push for Medicaid Reforms
The Rio Grande Valley became one of the last regions to operate under Medicaid health maintenance organizations last year. Now, many doctors there say the red tape in the new system has taken the joy out of practicing medicine.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers Discuss Ways to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse
At a Senate panel hearing Tuesday on prescription drug abuse, doctors called upon the Legislature to provide “better education to physicians” about “how addictive these drugs are.”
Posted in
State Government
Mental Health of Veterans is Focus of House Panel’s Hearing
Amid a recent increase in suicides among military veterans, Texas lawmakers are looking at ways to address mental health challenges for veterans as they return home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted inState Government
Interactive: State-Funded Mental Health Care
Texas has a severe shortage of mental health professionals, according to the federal government. This interactive map provides information on state-funded mental health care statewide.
Posted inHealth care, State Government
Updated Interactive: A Look at West Nile Virus Cases, Deaths Statewide
In the last two weeks, the number of reported 2012 cases of the West Nile virus has nearly doubled, and the death toll rose to 30 in Texas. This interactive shows the number of reported cases by county.
