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.]()
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Health Chief Says He Was Misled on No-Bid Deal
Texas Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek said Tuesday he was misled in briefings on a no-bid, $110 million deal handed to an Austin company for unproven software to detect Medicaid fraud. Full Story
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![Texas Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek at a Texas Tribune event.]()
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The Brief: Dec. 22, 2014
The Austin American-Statesman and Houston Chronicle delved further in their Sunday editions into the circumstances around the no-bid Medicaid fraud software contract awarded to Austin technology firm 21CT. Full Story
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![Former HHSC Inspector General Doug Wilson, left, and his former second-in-command, Jack Stick.]()
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One Fired, Three Sent Home as 21CT Fallout Widens
Gov. Rick Perry on Friday fired HHSC Inspector General Doug Wilson as fallout widened from the selection of a relatively unknown company for a $110 million Medicaid fraud software contract. Full Story
![Former HHSC Inspector General Doug Wilson, left, and his former second-in-command, Jack Stick.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel -
As Statewide Smoking Ban Burns Out in Capitol, Cities Go It Alone
Next year will mark the fifth legislative session in a row where Texas lawmakers have considered a statewide ban on smoking in public places. More than 100 Texas cities haven't waited for them, despite pushback from some businesses. Full Story
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Roundup: Funding Mental Health and a Perry Proposal
This week in the Roundup: With just a few weeks left in office, Gov. Rick Perry is planning an official farewell address to lawmakers, a Texas A&M proposal to honor Perry is pulled and the state is poised to weigh another sizable investment in mental health care. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 19, 2014
Is Texas in danger of recession next year because of the current swoon in oil prices? An economist with J.P. Morgan Chase is raising an early warning flag about that possibility. Full Story
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Second HHSC Contract Scrapped Amid Questions About Open Bidding
The Health and Human Services Commission has canceled a second contract involving Jack Stick, who resigned as the agency's top lawyer amid concerns over a $110 million contract that was not competitively bid. Full Story
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![Jack Stick resigned last week as top lawyer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
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The Brief: Dec. 16, 2014
The Tribune's Jim Malewitz tries to get at, in a piece also published in Politico Magazine, the root causes that spurred the town of Denton to approve a ban on fracking last month. Full Story
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Video: A Bid to Attract More Mental Health Workers
A bill filed Monday could create a financial incentive for students to become mental health care providers. Senate Bill 239 would create a loan reimbursement program for certain licensed mental health workers who assist the underserved. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 15, 2014
The Houston Chronicle's Theodore Schleifer has the goods on next year's mayoral election in Houston. Full Story
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![State Representative Sylvester Turner at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on May 27, 2013.]()
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The Playlist: Tears Over Beers
Three Texas breweries filed a lawsuit against the state for allegedly "stifling the craft beer renaissance," so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with "Tears Over Beers" by Modern Baseball. Full Story
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Roundup: Health Agency Overhaul and Abbott's Agenda
This week in the Roundup: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott highlights the issues he'll prioritize in the coming legislative session, the state loses out on millions of federal dollars for pre-kindergarten programs, and Texas' health care system is on the cusp of a major overhaul. Full Story
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Future of CHIP Funding Looms Over State Budget
With federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program set to expire next year, children’s health advocates and Gov. Rick Perry are urging Congress to reauthorize it as soon as possible. Full Story
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![Dr. Javier Saenz checks the ear of Viviana Escareño, 6, for infection. The young girl’s mother, Claudia Escareño, has brought “Vivi” to Saenz’s clinic since she was born.]()
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The Brief: Dec. 11, 2014
A couple of popular government programs for children — one helping with early education and the other providing health care — are facing funding questions. Full Story
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![A pre-kindergarten student learned syllables and word identification during a summer bilingual academy at Wilson Elementary School in San Antonio on June 26, 2012.]()
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Sunset Commission Backs Bid to Consolidate State Health Agencies
With the endorsement Wednesday of the Sunset Advisory Commission, legislators are set to move forward with a consolidation of the state's five health agencies into a single health commission with seven divisions. Full Story
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Video: The Transformation of Medical Education
Full video of our 12/9 conversation with three of the state's medical school deans and state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, about the transformation of medical education in Texas. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 5, 2014
Voters in Senate District 18 go to the polls on Saturday to choose who will serve out the remainder of the term of Glenn Hegar, the state's next comptroller. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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