House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on everything in the state budget except for public and higher education and a section of general provisions that can be used later to make sure the numbers in the budget balance.
Health care
In-depth reporting on public health, healthcare policy, hospitals, and wellness issues shaping communities across Texas, from The Texas Tribune.
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Health care
House Passes Bill on Indigent Health Care for Legal Immigrants
A contentious measure that would allow Texas counties to consider the income of a legal immigrant’s sponsor when determining if the immigrant is eligible for indigent health care passed the state House today.
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Health care
Statewide Smoking Ban Not Stubbed Out Yet
Don’t stub out the statewide smoking ban bill yet. The bill’s House and Senate authors say they’ve got a vehicle for the measure to be passed, and they’re still hopeful Texas will be the first southern state to outlaw the habit in restaurants, bars and most public places.
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Economy
Trial Balloons
The ideas on what to do with the state budget are getting weirder and weirder.
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Health care
Cardiologists Accuse Victoria Hospital of Discrimination
The emails and memos written by administrators and doctors at Victoria’s Citizens Medical Center about three of their colleagues of Indian descent are, at best, derogatory. At worst, they could be seen as racist — and they’re the subject of a sweeping discrimination suit.
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Health care
Budget Cuts Jeopardize Care for Critically Ill Children
Facing an estimated 28 percent reduction in funds to care for medically fragile children, in-home nursing companies say they could be forced to shut their doors, or else dramatically slash what they pay nurses.
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Health care
Women’s Health Program Circling the Drain?
Texas’ Women’s Health Program may be circling the drain. Sen. Bob Deuell says he doesn’t have the votes in the Senate to bring up a bill to renew the family planning and preventative care program — and Rep. Garnet Coleman says his House bill is stuck.
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Health care
House Debates Anti-“Obamacare” Bills
In their latest effort to remind Washington how much they hate federal health reform, House lawmakers gave early approval tonight to one measure to hold “Obamacare” at bay and deflected, at least temporarily, another that is directed at the individual mandate for health insurance.
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Health care
Video: Cecile Richards Visits Capitol, Defends Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards, a native Texan and daughter of former Gov. Ann Richards, visited the Capitol on Wednesday to defend funding for womens’ health services.
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Health care
House Gives Early OK to Dental Bill
House lawmakers gave an early OK tonight to a measure that would stop health insurance plans from requiring dentists to agree to discounted fees for services not covered by the policy. The bill has already passed the Senate.
