The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the Supreme Court's decision not to halt the law "an injustice" and Vice President Kamala Harris promised the administration would defend abortion rights. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/302214eb567a50813c271e480d6ebd7b/Biden%20Aug%2031%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
From abortion restrictions to guns, the Texas Legislature's regular session Republican victories were just the beginning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cd743c60a9d7fde7bd7ed5148bedc3c7/House%20Floor%20823%20EG%20TT%2050.jpg)
Texas’ strict new law sends patients scrambling for alternative ways to access abortion, including out-of-state clinics and “self-managed” procedures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6669528efce4a509616980df2721276e/Texas%20Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20JV%20TT%2008.jpg)
The decision came as major providers in the state said they had canceled most of their abortion appointments and advocates fretted that the procedure had been all but banned in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b534c314d89665a816e8a3e0cdb090a3/Doctor%20Clinic%20Medical%20Women%20Health%20SS%20TT%2004.jpg)
Stressed health workers are now confronting volatile visitors and patients. “The verbal abuse, the name-calling, racial slurs … we’ve had broken bones, broken noses,” said one hospital official in Dallas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1c36a1f9a3c46c0d37235d91fcdb3ed8/Nursing%20Shortage%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
Senate Bill 4, which was advanced by the Texas House on Monday evening, would bar access to abortion-inducing pills to patients who are more than seven weeks pregnant. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/060aa40ba7e1d64c063fc39545b31547/Womens%20Health%20SS%20TT%2001.jpg)
The law, which is one of the most restrictive in the country, is scheduled to go into effect Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/66663103f034996f9c463acfec44d420/Abortion%20Supreme%20Court%20SCOTUS%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
So far the state has paid to hire more than 8,000 contract health care workers as hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Texas approach the record set last winter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/263e4ff41d84c7c28354e7d23297e2df/Nursing%20Shortage%20JV%20TT%2025.jpg)
Abbott says local district attorneys have the authority to enforce his ban on local mask mandates. But urban DAs are unlikely to go after their fellow local officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eba7100ea772c59f6e59c6c48c743b31/Blanco%20Vista%20Elementary%20JV%20TT%2031.jpg)
Those in the 30-49 age range were hospitalized this month at nearly double their rate in January, the pandemic's previous peak in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ec037708332a02d696cd5ad7455f966a/Nursing%20Shortage%20JV%20TT%2033.jpg)
The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, gives new mothers six months of postpartum Medicaid coverage instead of two. That’s less than many advocates and some lawmakers wanted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7761aa66ce9c71930b77738c21134fbb/Postpartum%20Tambra%20Morrison%20ST%20TT%2002.jpg)
Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6ca534098e1b39b230f8e439e4b93e22/AISD%20Vaccine%20Event%20SP%20TT%2013.jpg)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is using the state seal to shield himself against accusations by former top aides. And former Gov. Rick Perry is using it as well — as a backdrop for a sales pitch. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5f09624b1789a4ee3394c0a9500d7ee5/Ken%20Paxton%20Red%20State%202014%20CN%20TT%2001.jpg)
The order comes two days after the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine. It doesn't keep private businesses from mandating vaccines for their workers — but public or private entities that receive public funds cannot require vaccination proof from customers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26111fce1eb84c05361e91ad19b8892a/CTFB-UT%20Vaccine%20Clinic%20SP%20TT%2003.jpg)
We’re going to use our texting line to keep you updated with the latest pandemic news. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/550eee35608b3eb5532cc8b5a1d8da8f/Wilco%20Mass%20Vaccination%20SF%20TT%2013.jpg)
Other city and county governments in Texas are offering incentives to unvaccinated people to get a shot. Statewide, vaccination rates have increased modestly. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c383a4fef2cf37f563da1ab0e4d1c677/HISD%20COVID%20Vaccine%20MYL%20TT%2017.jpeg)
After increasing in January due to the COVID-19 omicron variant, the number of hospitals reporting full ICU units declined after falling short of the August peak, which was caused by the delta variant. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7a1e2d8bbcc8a21e4817fe9a03c88e95/DHR%20COVID%20Ward%20Edinburg%20MG%20TT%2046)
COVID-19 is surging again in Texas. Here’s the latest. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6ee44721ef079f6cc7d9dd50a7f860e/Antibody%20COVID%20Infusion%20ST%20TT%20016.JPG)
The infusions are more available and accessible to Texans than ever before, and new criteria for who can receive antibody treatment have led more doctors to prescribe it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4dd23bd3b6495212577500ea766aa6e/Antibody%20COVID%20Infusion%20ST%20TT%20003.jpg)
The governor credited his vaccination for keeping his infection "brief and mild" and encouraged others to consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7c0979ef47826cf6d9d3e298bd40ce13/Power%20Grid%20Bill%20Signing%20SP%20TT%2005.jpg)