The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
The federal government is open to expanding Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act in a way that is “uniquely Texan,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday in Austin. Full Story
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After hearing critics take aim at the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, legislators approved new regulations that they hope will improve the board's efficiency. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Though Texas will join 26 other states in defaulting to a federal marketplace for purchasing health insurance, it is one of only six that will not enforce new health insurance reforms prescribed by the law. Full Story
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Thousands of untested rape kits are likely to get processed for DNA evidence after state budget writers included $11 million for the effort in the 2014-15 budget. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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UPDATED: A Wise County hospital system has changed its specialist-only policy that prevented some family practice doctors from delivering babies. Full Story
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UPDATED: State Sen. Jane Nelson has responded to the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition’s concerns that the state’s $100 million expansion of a primary care program would not meet lawmakers' intent of restoring access to family planning. Full Story
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How long you live and how healthy you are could depend in part on where you call home. Our interactive map shows life expectancy, obesity rates and levels of physical activity by county, according to data from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Full Story
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The left-leaning Center for American Progress lists 22 Texas counties among the 30 in the nation that are most likely to benefit from the Affordable Care Act. But the federal health law's critics question how effective the reform will be. Full Story
Despite resistance from congressional Republican leadership, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is calling on grass-roots organizers to help in his fight to defund the federal Affordable Care Act. Full Story
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The Affordable Care Act's new rules for determining Medicaid eligibility has officials at the Health and Human Services Commission worried about an increased burden in processing applications. Full Story
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The number of claims filed for medical and family planning services in the new state-run Texas Women's Health Program has dropped since the state ousted Planned Parenthood from it, according to state figures. Full Story
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In place of this week's Newsreel, we've got the story of the week — and of the political year so far: the debate and filibuster and verbal melee that marked the last day of the first special session. Full Story
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The federal government issued a temporary moratorium on Friday to halt enrollment of ambulance service providers in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to combat fraud in the Houston area. Full Story
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With major components of the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in the coming months, Texas' U.S. senators have remained vocal in their calls to defund or dismantle the law. Full Story
The Texas attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that it has obtained a $1.4 million settlement with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast for overbilling the state’s Medicaid program. Full Story
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Private organizations are working to educate Texans about coverage options through the federal health insurance exchange, a component of the federal Affordable Care Act that opens on Oct. 1. Full Story
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Three Planned Parenthood family planning facilities in Southeast Texas will close by the end of August, citing the loss of access to funding. The closures aren't related to recently approved abortion restrictions. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 2 — the omnibus abortion legislation — into law Thursday morning. Full Story
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With a few dozen protesters chanting outside and a Capitol auditorium full of supporters, Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 2 — the omnibus abortion legislation — into law Thursday morning. Full Story
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With Gov. Rick Perry expected to sign House Bill 2 into law, abortion rights groups are considering a lawsuit against the state as one option to attempt to block implementation of the legislation. Full Story
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