The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
Physicians Premier ER charged Dr. Zachary Sussman's insurance $10,984 for his COVID-19 antibody test even though Sussman worked for the chain and knows the testing materials only cost about $8. Even more surprising: The insurer paid in full. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/99a535ebd1fb4d66946bdb282e1b1e05/Physicians%20Premier%20ER%20AI%20TT%2004.jpg)
More than 500 residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care centers who were evacuated are still waiting to come home, according to the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa111bb956d0ed4b67db1f148843492a/Port%20Arthur%20Nursing%20Home%20Tanya%20MF%20TT%2008.jpg)
After a late July peak, the number of statewide coronavirus hospitalizations has fallen from about 11,000 per day to about 4,500. Children who are infected are less likely to be hospitalized. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e0e04b320f554c1e5eada1af58cc0f3c/TXST%20COVID%20JV%20TT%2019.jpg)
The Texas Tribune spoke to experts about what the state can expect as schools and universities start school remotely or in person. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ea6da9dba9f70b486bbede3f17f0bae2/UT%20Austin%20Reopening%20AG%20TT%2017.jpg)
An August budget document shows funding for the anti-abortion program would be maintained, but reduced for doctors and clinics that provide reduced-cost contraception and health screenings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8216ec909b8ada05ff0cc929dacfd1b3/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20%20SS%20TT%2009.jpg)
The state disclosed a backlog of more than 850,000 tests this month, which were delayed in part because of coding or formatting errors and a lengthy onboarding process needed to receive reports from laboratories. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2619d3afd2cfb79a22be5f1f8688de60/North%20Texas%20COVID%20Testing%20SL%20TT%2018.jpg)
Nearly 350,000 Texans don't qualify for the extra payment because they either earned too little from the work they lost or didn't indicate on paperwork that they lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1a353501450c2769216245f5e0710361/Central%20TX%20Food%20Bank%20AG%20TT%2018.jpg)
There are 347,700 Texans losing federal supplements to unemployment insurance. And 716,000 students getting laptops and tablets for virtual school. And 11,395 COVID-19 deaths. Each statistic has a human face. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9fc0eb86c760686ffebe80463739ff77/Ironwood%20Saloon%20CL%20TT%2019.jpg)
Monday was the first day of in-person instruction at the San Marcos campus since the coronavirus pandemic raged across Texas, forcing school officials to reinvent the college experience in an attempt to keep students safe. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbeb635eede41329e55b3c0d224775bc/TXST%20COVID%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
Texas said it would allow American Airlines and two branches of a sports clinic to start using the new product. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e51106494cf66254106d8e28621f544c/DFW%20Airport%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
Texans receiving less than $100 in weekly unemployment benefits do not qualify for the extra $300 weekly payments the Trump administration is distributing to Texas and other states. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26c25bf5be80b17d02e97b84d6a5c34d/Threadgills%20COVID%2019%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Students grappling with financial upsets and a hurting economy say tuition should be lowered at their Texas universities. But some colleges are adding new fees related to an increase in distance learning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c1b1a007e4f42ecee5e5f912e77b197/Tuition%20Increase%20BT%20TT%2003.jpg)
The hospital where he had previously ministered to terminally ill patients was full when Adolfo Alvarado Jr. neared death in his Mission home. He was finally admitted, and his daughter watched on her laptop as he died. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/19acf6f5e7d8675ae1ce6a660f30e8c2/RGV%20Chaplain%20Family%20Portrait%20TT%2001.jpg)
The union leader said tens of thousands of pieces of mail were carted away ahead of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s visit. The office's delays have been exacerbated by employees missing because of COVID-19 concerns. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32e74bce1495f96b47f9f4fc785ccd8b/USPS%20Post%20Office%20AG%20TT%2008.jpg)
Without numbers on how many children or staff are in Texas child care facilities — which the state does not report — it’s hard to gauge the magnitude of infections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa19da7a416ddad8076a89212c5b6e35/lbs_daycare-2_TT.jpg)
The Texas State Employees Union presented a petition that condemns the upcoming return to campus in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as harmful. Classes start Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1ce4baf9bd7df71653c43ef34ac2851/UT%20Austin%20Texas%20Flag%20EG%20TT%2003.jpg)
Confusion over unemployment relief in Texas has persisted since President Donald Trump took executive action in early August announcing an extra $400 weekly payment — but only if states administer the funds and chip in a quarter of the cost. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13e0c55b2af2d75c39d745b9489db1c3/ATX%20Bars%20Close%20Again%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg)
New Jersey, New York and California have also exceeded 10,000 known COVID-19 fatalities. Experts say official death tolls are all but certain to be undercounts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1410a41a992f0019007e2864fc9f9e6/DHR%20COVID%20Ward%20Edinburg%20MG%20TT%2029)
Earlier this week, Texas disclosed more than 124,000 previously unreported COVID-19 tests, at a time when the proportion of positive tests results was drawing attention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce83d0ebd35fba22b922ea04c0200e7a/Houston%20Covid%20Testing%20AM%20TT%2002.jpg)
Texas eased restrictions on visitation in long-term care facilities last week, but many families remain unsure if they will be allowed to visit. For those cut off from their loved ones for almost five months, isolation is becoming another very real threat. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2b69808ea88cf4eb882210d7c5a24763/Genny%20Lutzel%20Nursing%20Home%20BT%20TT%2015.jpg)