Arkansas Medicaid Plan Offers Mixed Lessons
Early on, supporters of Medicaid expansion pointed to Arkansas as an example of how Texas might go about helping insure its poor. But lately, the neighbor's grass doesn't look quite as green. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 16, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry's formal farewell Thursday afternoon to the state Legislature dominated headlines with writers trying to discern from his speech what the future holds for him. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry delivers a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Sources: Abbott Will Wait to Decide on Janek's Future
Amid calls for Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek to resign over a contracting scandal, sources close to Gov.-elect Greg Abbott say Abbott won't decide on Janek's future until after the completion of state investigations. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 15, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry will close the door on 30 years of state government work with a farewell address Thursday afternoon to the Legislature. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Greg Abbott Gives Back 21CT Campaign Donation
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's office has confirmed that he returned a $10,000 campaign contribution from the CEO of the beleaguered company at the center of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracting woes. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott is shown visiting the Senate chamber on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: New House Members on the Health Care
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about what the Lege is likely to do on health care. Full Story
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Amid Health Commission Contracting Fallout, Abbott Calls for Review
UPDATED: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the creation of an independent "strike force" to review the state's largest health agency, specifically how it awards contracts to private vendors. Full Story
![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 13, 2015
A historic vote for House speaker could happen on a day long on ceremony otherwise. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 12, 2015
Glenn Hegar, the state's new comptroller, today releases his revenue estimate for the next two years, which will go a long way to setting the early tone for the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar (far right) stands with chief revenue estimators past and future. From left: Dale Craymer, Billy Hamilton and Tom Currah, the incoming estimator.]()
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The Playlist: Brand New Day
With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
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HHSC Revamping Rules After Paying for Janek Aide's MBA
The embattled agency on Friday promised reforms, after confirming a Tribune finding that an employee with ties to Commissioner Kyle Janek and ousted chief counsel Jack Stick has been pursuing his MBA at taxpayers' expense. Full Story
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![Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek is shown at a Texas Tribune event in 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Jan. 8, 2015
Unexpectedly tough lines of questioning by federal appeals court judges hearing arguments over Texas' requirement that abortion clinics meet hospital-like standards buoyed hopes of abortion rights supporters on Wednesday. Full Story
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![An abortion procedure room at the Whole Woman's Health ambulatory surgical center in San Antonio.]()
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Appeals Judges Grill Lawyers Over Abortion Law Provision
As they weigh the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law, federal appeals court judges on Wednesday challenged arguments presented by the state and abortion providers during more than an hour of tough questioning. Full Story
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![The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals building in New Orleans.]()
Credit: Alexa Ura -
Lakey Leaving DSHS, but Not Public Health
It's official: David Lakey is leaving his job as the state's public health chief for a new academic post. His move comes as lawmakers are considering consolidating the state's health agencies, which could've meant changes for Lakey. Full Story
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![Dr. Lakey questions witness during the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at the Texas Capitol on October 23rd, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Court to Weigh Texas Policies on Abortion and Gay Marriage
This week, a federal appeals court is set to consider two prominent Texas cases: a legal challenge to the state's strict abortion regulations and an attempt to overturn the state’s longstanding ban on same-sex marriages. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond -
The Brief: Jan. 7, 2015
No final resolution was reached in any of the three special elections held on Tuesday. Full Story
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![State Reps. José Menéndez (left) and Trey Martinez Fischer, both Democrats from San Antonio, are seeking the Texas Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Sources: Lakey Leaving DSHS for Position at UT System
David Lakey, the state's public health chief, will accept a joint position with the University of Texas System and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, sources tell the Tribune. Full Story
![Dr. Lakey questions witness during the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at the Texas Capitol on October 23rd, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Stick's Chief of Staff Facing Steep Pay Cut
One of three Texas Health and Human Services Commission employees put on paid administrative leave amid a probe into the agency’s contracting procedures is facing a 50 percent cut to his salary. Full Story
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![Jack Stick, the top lawyer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
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Battles Near and Far Over Medicaid and More
Gov. Rick Perry has championed private-market health care solutions and criticized public programs like Medicaid for being inefficient. Alexa Ura and Edgar Walters write about that and other notable health care issues that have come up during Perry's tenure. Full Story
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For Members of Health Ministries, Caring Means Sharing the Bills
A small but fast-growing number of Texans are joining health care sharing ministries, religious alternatives to federally mandated insurance in which members pool monthly payments to help cover one another’s medical expenses. Full Story
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![Erica and Lance Beiler pose for a photo with their daughter, Arabella, at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas on Dec. 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill
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