As lawmakers in D.C. hammer out a health care reform bill, physician-owned specialty hospitals — a quarter of which are in Texas — face an uncertain fate.
Medicaid
Math Anxiety
Will there be enough money to cover the current state budget? “Fortunately, it’s too early to tell,” jokes House Speaker Joe Straus. He and other state leaders are well aware of the numbers, and although they think it’s not yet time to act, they’re focused on the big question.
TribBlog: ‘Money Follows the Person’? Not exactly.
The federal Medicaid program designed to help disabled and elderly residents of institutions move back into the community hasn’t even gotten close to meeting its early goals, despite Texas’ efforts.
Into Thin Air
Lobbyists spent a record $15 million on advertising during the 2005 session and another $12 million in 2007 — but less than $1 million this year. What happened?
Texas Weekly: A Texas-sized Hole in the Safety Net
If the “states’ rights” leadership in Texas refuses to do anything for our state, then it’s up to Congress to enact reform that will benefit all Americans, especially Texans.
Texas Weekly: Let Texans Take Care of Texans
The best way to achieve universal coverage is to build upon those systems which have proven most effective — market-based solutions.
Texas Weekly: Private, Patient-centered Health Insurance
A patient-centered approach to health care reform would build on America’s world-leading quality and high patient satisfaction in a way that extends those benefits to even more people and empowers all patients to make their own medical decisions.
Texas Weekly: A National Plan for Affordable Insurance
To insure most Texans, two big changes are needed: a guarantee of affordable insurance pricing for everyone, and a strong subsidy system for those who can’t pay without help.
Poll: Perry Leads
The new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll debuted this week with a survey that puts Kay Bailey Hutchison 12 points behind Rick Perry in the race for Texas governor, that says the Democrats are mostly unknown and trailing that perennial frontrunner, Undecided, and that finds the Maybe Race for U.S. Senate dominated by three candidates who are all, in turn, losing to Undecided.
Best-Laid Plans
It’s hard to believe the governor saw this coming. When Rick Perry decided to replace the a board on the eve of a hearing about the evidence that sent a Texas man to the executioner, he couldn’t have been thinking the story would grow legs and stomp all around his bid for reelection.


