The Department of State Health Services will destroy all blood samples taken from infants before May 27, 2009 to settle a lawsuit over the state’s newborn screening program.
Health care
In-depth reporting on public health, healthcare policy, hospitals, and wellness issues shaping communities across Texas, from The Texas Tribune.
Rate Riot
Families of disabled Texans fear an increase in home nursing rates could force them to cut services for their loved ones.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Stiles and Thevenot collaborate on the salaries paid to superintendents, and even compare them on price per student… Ramsey’s look at redistricting and next year’s elections… Aguilar’s report on jails, brought to you by the federal agency that’s in the ag business… Rapoport’s peek at the power behind Texas pre-kindergarten programs… Smith’s conversation with Dan Patrick, in three parts… Grissom’s narrative on a circular immigration and deportation route financed by two governments… Ramshaw finds doctors agreeing on public policy and split on strategy and tactics… Hu’s latest Stump Interrupted puts the camera on Farouk Shami… Hamilton’s story on two retired cops who are taking on cargo theft in Texas… And Kreighbaum and Stiles pop open the itineraries of your folks in Congress. The best of our best from December 12 to 18, 2009.
TribBlog: Have Tx Medical Malpractice Caps Failed?
Medical malpractice liability caps Texas lawmakers installed in 2003 have failed to improve the state’s health care system, according to a Public Citizen report released today.
Same Diagnosis, Different Prescription
In the political posturing over health care reform, the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association stand divided.
Home Alone
The home health care cuts that Congress will likely make to fund federal health care reform will take an extra large swipe at Texas.
The Polling Center: Public Option, Universal Coverage Divide Texans
In the health care debate, universal coverage has significant if not overwhelming support, but is also marked by pronounced partisan differences, and Texans appeared truly split down the middle on the “public option.”
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Stiles and Babalola’s long-awaited red-light camera data app. Grissom’s two-parter on a powerful Texan’s quest to change the DPS report on the crash that killed his son. Ramshaw’s two-parter on transitional medicine. Thevenot on the charter school queue. And a ton of political news: KBH filed (but our TribCasters wondered about her path to the GOP nod); Debra Medina filed (and Hamilton tried to sort out what effect she’ll have on the race); Farouk Shami defiantly remained in the Democratic primary (but Hu couldn’t find evidence that he’d voted very often, let alone like a Democrat); and Rick Perry sent personalized messages to every Tom, Dick, and fill-in-the-blank. The best of our best from December 7 to 11, 2009
Slideshow: Transition Medicine
Benjamin Ligums was born with a rare degenerative brain disease that left him immobile, non-verbal and legally blind. His family has found a second home at Baylor’s Transition Medicine Clinic, which specializes in treating profoundly disabled young adults.
Aging Out
When kids with disabilities transfer from children’s Medicaid to the adult program, they lose services, health care and medical expertise. A few committed doctors and social workers are stepping in to ease the transition.

