The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
In a letter Thursday, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, says Gov. Rick Perry's move to establish strict rules for so-called health insurance navigators defies the intent of a law legislators passed this year. Full Story
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Dan Patrick has made his opposition to abortion a centerpiece of his campaign for lieutenant governor. But two prominent abortion opponents are criticizing the Houston senator for once owning stock in the maker of the "morning after" pill. Full Story
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UPDATED: In addition to having the highest rate of people without health insurance in the nation, Texas also has the largest number of children without health insurance, according to U.S. census data released late Wednesday. Full Story
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In a letter to the state's health agency on Monday, Gov. Rick Perry laid out his plan to request a federal waiver to reform Medicaid as Texas sees fit — without expanding eligibility. Full Story
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In their successful push for new abortion regulations, abortion opponents said conditions at existing facilities were unsafe. But a Texas Tribune review of recent state records showed little evidence to suggest the facilities were putting patients in imminent danger. Full Story
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Texas will enact new abortion regulations in October. Use this interactive to look up the most recent state inspection records for abortion facilities and see how many abortion facilities have closed since January. Full Story
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Small-town hospitals are worried that a federal recommendation to cut costs by re-evaluating which rural hospitals receive higher Medicare reimbursements could threaten their financial security — and even prompt them to shut their doors. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Monday celebrated the 10th anniversary of legislation limiting medical liability in Texas. But a debate is still raging over whether the law has benefited Texas as much as Perry and conservatives claim. Full Story
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After landing a major federal contract as Texas A&M University System’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, Brett Giroir is being named interim executive vice president for the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Full Story
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On Sept. 5, Becca Aaronson talked with Dr. Esteban López of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Dr. Amelie Ramirez of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, on health care in what will be soon be a majority-Latino state. Full Story
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A measles outbreak at a church and soaring rates of whooping cough across the state are drawing renewed calls for immunization legislation, which medical professionals argue would help the state prevent public health crises. Full Story
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Use this interactive to explore the nearly $100 million in grants that Texas has received through the federal Affordable Care Act. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday continued his campaign against the White House’s health care plan during a tour of Fort Bliss. While local business leaders agreed with him on federal health reform, they were at odds over immigration. Full Story
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The federal government is spending millions of dollars to promote health care coverage via new marketplace exchanges, but with only a few weeks left until their debut, some Texans say they've been left with more questions than answers. Full Story
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At the Trib's August 19 symposium on mental health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Brandi Grissom talked about the intersection of mental health and immigration with a distinguished panel. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is entering his third week on the road in Texas promoting his plan to defund federal health reform. But while the message resonates with his grassroots supporters, it's getting little traction in Congress. Full Story
On August 27, I talked with U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Kyle Janek, executive commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services, about where the state goes next on health care. Full Story
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This year, Texas joined several other states that ban minors from tanning indoors. Previously, certain minors — those between 16 ½ and 18 — could tan with parental consent. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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At the Trib's August 19 symposium on mental health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Brandi Grissom talked about the intersection of mental health and criminal justice with a distinguished panel. Full Story
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UPDATED: Despite pleas from reproductive rights advocates to amend proposed rules to enact strict regulations on abortion facilities, the Department of State Health Services’ governing council gave tacit approval to them on Thursday. Full Story