A nurse practitioner aims to provide health care as rural hospitals close and it becomes harder to access preventive care.
Health care
In-depth reporting on public health, healthcare policy, hospitals, and wellness issues shaping communities across Texas, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
LGBTQ+ Texans
Mom says trans eighth grader was questioned by Texas investigator at school
A declaration recounting the incident was filed as part of an ongoing lawsuit by LGBTQ legal advocates.
Posted in
Health care
Top Texas health official who led response to coronavirus pandemic is retiring
Dr. John Hellerstedt, who has led the Texas Department of State Health Services since 2016, will retire at the end of the month. Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the chief state epidemiologist, has been named his interim replacement.
Posted in
Climate Change in Texas
“It’s destroying me”: Storm after storm, climate change increases strain on Texans’ mental health
Tens of thousands of coastal Texas residents have survived repeated extreme weather events including Hurricane Harvey. For many, it has taken an emotional toll, and researchers warn that climate change could be “catastrophic” for our mental health.
Posted in
Guides
How to care for your mental health in the age of climate change and worsening natural disasters
Call or text 800-985-5990 to reach the national Disaster Distress Helpline, or dial 211 to find local mental health resources in Texas.
Posted in
Health care
Religious employers need not cover PrEP in their health plans, federal judge rules
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s ruling could threaten access to sexual and reproductive health care for more than 150 million working Americans on employer-sponsored health care plans. The ruling will likely be appealed.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
Video: As San Antonio abortion clinic closes, its director worries about who is left behind
In August, movers arrived at Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services to help the abortion clinic pack up for a move out of state.
Posted in
Health care
Gov. Greg Abbott said rape victims can take Plan B. But emergency contraception isn’t widely available for the state’s poorest people.
Abbott said that victims of rape could take Plan B to prevent a pregnancy. Due to the state’s health care landscape, accessing emergency contraception may not be feasible for low-income Texans.
Posted in
LGBTQ+ Texans
Texas’ child welfare agency told staffers to keep quiet about gender-affirming care investigations, documents show
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services leaders instructed employees to avoid written communications about the cases and barred low-level employees from handling the investigations, according to internal agency communications.
Posted in
Health care
Harris County resident with monkeypox dies, marking first death in the U.S. linked to the virus
State health officials said the person was “severely immunocompromised” and are still investigating what role the virus played in the death.