The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
UPDATED: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the creation of an independent "strike force" to review the state's largest health agency, specifically how it awards contracts to private vendors. Full Story
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A historic vote for House speaker could happen on a day long on ceremony otherwise. Full Story
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Glenn Hegar, the state's new comptroller, today releases his revenue estimate for the next two years, which will go a long way to setting the early tone for the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
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The embattled agency on Friday promised reforms, after confirming a Tribune finding that an employee with ties to Commissioner Kyle Janek and ousted chief counsel Jack Stick has been pursuing his MBA at taxpayers' expense. Full Story
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Unexpectedly tough lines of questioning by federal appeals court judges hearing arguments over Texas' requirement that abortion clinics meet hospital-like standards buoyed hopes of abortion rights supporters on Wednesday. Full Story
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As they weigh the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law, federal appeals court judges on Wednesday challenged arguments presented by the state and abortion providers during more than an hour of tough questioning. Full Story
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It's official: David Lakey is leaving his job as the state's public health chief for a new academic post. His move comes as lawmakers are considering consolidating the state's health agencies, which could've meant changes for Lakey. Full Story
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This week, a federal appeals court is set to consider two prominent Texas cases: a legal challenge to the state's strict abortion regulations and an attempt to overturn the state’s longstanding ban on same-sex marriages. Full Story
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No final resolution was reached in any of the three special elections held on Tuesday. Full Story
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David Lakey, the state's public health chief, will accept a joint position with the University of Texas System and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, sources tell the Tribune. Full Story
One of three Texas Health and Human Services Commission employees put on paid administrative leave amid a probe into the agency’s contracting procedures is facing a 50 percent cut to his salary. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry has championed private-market health care solutions and criticized public programs like Medicaid for being inefficient. Alexa Ura and Edgar Walters write about that and other notable health care issues that have come up during Perry's tenure. Full Story
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A small but fast-growing number of Texans are joining health care sharing ministries, religious alternatives to federally mandated insurance in which members pool monthly payments to help cover one another’s medical expenses. Full Story
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek said Tuesday he was misled in briefings on a no-bid, $110 million deal handed to an Austin company for unproven software to detect Medicaid fraud. Full Story
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The Austin American-Statesman and Houston Chronicle delved further in their Sunday editions into the circumstances around the no-bid Medicaid fraud software contract awarded to Austin technology firm 21CT. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Friday fired HHSC Inspector General Doug Wilson as fallout widened from the selection of a relatively unknown company for a $110 million Medicaid fraud software contract. Full Story
Next year will mark the fifth legislative session in a row where Texas lawmakers have considered a statewide ban on smoking in public places. More than 100 Texas cities haven't waited for them, despite pushback from some businesses. Full Story
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This week in the Roundup: With just a few weeks left in office, Gov. Rick Perry is planning an official farewell address to lawmakers, a Texas A&M proposal to honor Perry is pulled and the state is poised to weigh another sizable investment in mental health care. Full Story
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Is Texas in danger of recession next year because of the current swoon in oil prices? An economist with J.P. Morgan Chase is raising an early warning flag about that possibility. Full Story
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