The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas' largest health agency says it has not studied how budget cuts will affect children’s access to medically necessary therapy treatments — and appeared this week to place the blame for that on Texas A&M University. The university is denying the state's account. Full Story
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New evidence presented in court on Monday paints a clearer picture of discussions taking place inside the state’s main health agency as it seeks to make deep cuts ordered by state lawmakers to a therapy program for poor and disabled children. Full Story
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One private company that provides health insurance to poor and disabled Texans is taking a gamble that it can keep homeless patients healthier — and save money — with a cash investment to get them off the street. Full Story
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Thousands of children with disabilities would be harmed by impending state budget cuts to therapy services, several dozen parents told state health officials on Friday. Full Story
Jack Stick, a former state representative and a former inspector general for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, went on trial Friday for a drunk driving charge he has fiercely contested in the court system. Full Story
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The share of Texans living in poverty continued to dip slightly in 2014, according to census figures released Thursday. But poverty is prevalent in many parts of the state. Take a closer look at poverty rates for several metro areas in the state. Full Story
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While Texas' rate of uninsured people has fallen below 20 percent for the first time in more than a decade, new U.S. Census data released Thursday shows disparities in access to health insurance. Full Story
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For the first time in more than a decade, Texas’ uninsured rate dipped below 20 percent, analysts said Wednesday following the release of U.S. Census data. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: A new study finds an Alzheimer's precursor can be transmitted, a slowdown in federal aid for biomedical research hinders advancement of treatments and an interview with Andrew Lee, director of the new Texas Center for Proton Therapy in Dallas. Full Story
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In the coming days, the deaths of Sandra Bland and Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth will continue to jolt statewide conversations about how the Texas criminal justice system deals with — or fails to deal with — mental health issues. Full Story
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As part of the massive exodus of refugees from the Middle East, Texas could soon become home to hundreds of Syrian refugees fleeing their country. The United States has announced it will take in 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next year. Full Story
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A six-month Texas Tribune/Austin American-Statesman investigation reveals a chummy and unusual financial arrangement between Texas Mutual Insurance and the Travis County district attorney's office. Full Story
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Texas abortion providers on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up their legal challenge to two provisions of the state's strict abortion law. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: One new hospital opens and another is announced in the Metroplex, new questions arise about treatment regimes for early stage breast cancer and an interview with Ryan Quock of the UT Health Science Center at Houston. Full Story
A newspaper editorial prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to have aides research the finances of a Houston health insurance plan to see if some hospitals caring for poor and uninsured Texans are "rolling in dough," emails obtained by The Texas Tribune show. Full Story
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State investigators failed to respond to prior complaints about an illegal assisted living facility in Austin shut down by Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday, and one of Paxton's employees is under investigation concerning powers of attorney related to the case. Full Story
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Responding to undercover videos of Planned Parenthood officials, Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday endorsed new laws to further tighten restrictions on Texas abortion providers, and possibly bar fetal tissue donation. Full Story
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The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will proceed with $100 million in cuts made by lawmakers to a therapy program for poor and disabled children, a spokesman said Wednesday afternoon. Full Story
A former high-ranking official with the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas was found not guilty Tuesday by a 12-member jury in Austin. He had been accused of deceiving colleagues in order to secure an $11 million grant for a biotechnology firm. Full Story
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A four-year, $37 million state program to improve physical education at high-poverty middle schools failed to reduce obesity rates, according to a study by the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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