New law seeks to prevent surprise medical bills from freestanding ERs
A new law requires Texas' freestanding emergency rooms to more clearly communicate what health insurance networks they're in, if any. Full Story
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![A freestanding emergency room provides 24-hour acute care in the Mueller neighborhood of Austin on July 10, 2017. As of Sept. 1, 2017, facilities like this one are required to post a notice of which health insurance networks they participate in, if any.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Amid opioid investigation, Texas and other states demand drug company documents
Texas and a coalition of 40 other states have served subpoenas or other requests to eight companies that manufacture or distribute prescription painkillers, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Within days, this Austin company hopes to start legally growing marijuana
If everything goes according to plan, scientists and manufacturers working out of Compassionate Cultivation will soon begin selling cannabis oil to patients with intractable epilepsy. Full Story
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![If everything goes according to plan, Compassionate Cultivation will be an operating medical marijuana dispensary in Austin before too long. CEO Morris Denton, left, and Director of Processing Chris Woods step into a small room where the extraction of cannabidiol will take place.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Fewer Texans were uninsured in 2016, but state still has largest health coverage gap
More Texans are insured now than four years ago — but the state is still home to 4.5 million people without health coverage, the largest share in the country. Full Story
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![A patient pays cash for a visit to Dr. Gustavo Villarreal's office in Laredo. Villarreal no longer accepts any form of health insurance.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal -
Fifteen no-cost abortions scheduled through Harvey relief effort
Whole Woman's Health Clinic has already put more than $8,000 toward providing abortions for women affected by the hurricane. Full Story
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![A hallway at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Harvey's aftermath raises health risks for the region. Here's how to avoid them.
Even as floodwaters have started receding in some places, experts warn that residents in Harvey-affected areas could still be exposed to numerous health threats, ranging from water contamination to mold to psychological distress. Full Story
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Child therapists fear new Texas policy will deepen funding cuts
Therapists who work with disabled children in their homes saw a glimmer of hope this year, when Texas lawmakers decided to restore some of the funds they cut for such services in 2015. It was short-lived. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Judge temporarily halts Texas ban on common second-trimester abortion procedure
A federal judge on Thursday delayed for two weeks enforcement of part of a state law that bans the most common second-trimester abortion method. Full Story
![A hallway at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Revisit our series on the state's preparedness for emergency evacuations
The evacuation ahead of Hurricane Rita in 2005 was marked by crowded roads and frustrated residents. But state officials say they're better prepared now. Read our seven-part "Road From Rita" series from 2015, done in collaboration with the Beaumont Enterprise. Full Story
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![Fleeing before Hurricane Rita hit land on Sept. 24, 2005, evacuees faced a separate disaster on roads like Interstate 10. The chaotic evacuation contributed to more deaths than the storm itself. Officials say they are better prepared for the next evacuation.]()
Credit: The Beaumont Enterprise -
Gov. Abbott signs bill giving Texas maternal mortality task force more time
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill on Wednesday giving a state task force more time to study why an alarming number of Texas mothers are dying less than a year after childbirth and find solutions. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Bill regulating do-not-resuscitate orders heads to governor's desk
A bill requiring doctors to obtain explicit patient permission for do-not-resuscitate orders will land on the governor's desk after the Senate voted to approve the measure Tuesday night. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, listens to witness testimony on several bills in Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott signs bill restricting insurance coverage of abortion
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Tuesday that will require Texas women to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, discusses House Bill 214, which would limit health benefit coverage for elective abortions, on Aug. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to extend life of maternal mortality task force
Legislation that would extend the life of a state task force studying Texas’ high maternal morbidity rates is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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Credit: Bas Silderhuis -
Bill adding abortion reporting requirements on path to governor's desk
A bill that would require physicians and health care facilities to report more details on abortion complications to the state — and fine those that do not comply — is all but certain to hit the governor's desk. Full Story
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![State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, debates an amendment to House Bill 13 on July 27, 2017, as Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, looks on. The bill would refine reporting requirements for abortion providers.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Bill requiring separate abortion insurance among those Texas House passed this week
A bill that advanced in the Texas Legislature this week would require women to pay an additional insurance premium if they want their health plan to cover abortions not considered medical emergencies. Full Story
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Texans may be able to start buying medical cannabis oil in January
Three dispensaries expect to get final approval from Texas soon to start growing and cultivating marijuana. It’ll take another several months before they can begin distributing the kind of cannabis oil that lawmakers legalized in 2015. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott displays SB339 as Rep. John Zerwas, Rep. Stephanie Klick and Sen. Kevin Eltife watch. The bill would allow limited use of medical marijuana oil that will control seizures in epileptic children.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Feds draw thousands of comments on Texas' request to renew women's health funding
The number of comments to a federal agency considering Texas' request to renew funding for its women's health program has surged this week as advocates on both sides weigh in. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion demonstrators march up Congress Avenue toward the Capitol in Austin for the Texas Rally for Life on Jan. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House approves more abortion reporting requirements
Doctors performing abortions on minors would be required to report additional information to the state under a new measure given early approval by the Texas House Thursday. Full Story
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![Rep. Jim Murphy R-Houston, answers questions on House Bill 215, an abortion-related bill, on Aug. 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House OKs reversing cuts to disabled children's therapy services
The Texas House gave tentative and unanimous approval Thursday to a measure that would partially reverse a controversial cut to disabled children’s therapy services that was ordered by the 2015 Legislature. Full Story
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![Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, speaks to media regarding her request to add Ethics Reform to the special session on Aug. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
"Bathroom bill" debate highlights barriers to updating birth certificate
The ongoing debate over bathroom restrictions for transgender Texans has shed a light on the complex process individuals face in changing their birth certificates. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht
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