The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
At the Trib's April 25 symposium on health care at the University of Texas at Austin, I talked with Kyle Janek, the executive commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services, about the prospects for leveraging federal dollars to reduce the number of uninsured Texans. Full Story
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At the Trib's April 25 symposium on higher education at the University of Texas at Austin, state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton, talked about Medicaid, mental health and more. Full Story
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The Texas Association of Businesses — a heavyweight in conservative lobbying circles — has endorsed state Rep. John Zerwas’ proposal to negotiate with the federal government to find a palatable way to expand health insurance coverage. Full Story
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Texas’ executive health commissioner, Kyle Janek, said Thursday that negotiations between the federal government and the Health and Human Services Commission on whether to expand Medicaid are at a standstill because he's waiting on the Legislature. Full Story
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Despite opposition from conservative Republicans, the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday advanced a proposal that would reform Medicaid by allowing the state to request a block grant from the federal government and expand coverage to low-income Texans. Full Story
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Texas optometrists are lobbying the Legislature for more power to negotiate contracts with health insurance companies, and the measure they are supporting could hit consumers’ wallets, some business advocates say. Full Story
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On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: As Texas lawmakers move to reform the embattled Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, we look at what the agency has accomplished so far. Full Story
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UPDATED: Without debate, the Texas Senate approved a bill by Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, to alter Texas' end-of-life laws. Full Story
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After months of back-and-forth with the General Land Office over the rebuilding of public housing units demolished after Hurricane Ike, the Galveston City Council voted Wednesday to adhere to terms set by the land office. Full Story
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Ahead of the 83rd legislative session, the state’s 10 leading health care associations gave more than $4.6 million to Texas candidates. This interactive shows how much — and to whom — health care associations donated in 2011 and 2012. Full Story
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Amid hours of testimony from advocates in support of Medicaid expansion on Tuesday, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, described his proposal for an alternative program to provide health coverage for the poor and uninsured. Full Story
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Despite Gov. Rick Perry remaining strongly opposed to expanding Medicaid, a House panel on Tuesday considered legislation that would expand coverage to poor adults under the Affordable Care Act. Full Story
UPDATED: The Texas Senate on Monday approved legislation that aims to tackle Medicaid fraud. Full Story
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Under a bill by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, applicants for unemployment benefits could be subject to drug testing if their responses to a questionnaire raise red flags. Full Story
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Nearly 2.6 million Texans could qualify for tax credits to purchase health insurance in 2014, according to a report released Thursday by a nonprofit advocacy group. Full Story
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The House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday took testimony on the controversial so-called fetal pain bill, a measure backed by Gov. Rick Perry and abortion opponents. Full Story
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A House committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill that would remove language in a state booklet distributed to women seeking an abortion that suggests induced abortion can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Full Story
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The Texas House on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would require medical checkups for foster children who are prescribed psychotropic drugs. Full Story
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Members of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ oversight committee were grilled Tuesday by a House panel that asked about their involvement with an affiliated foundation’s decision to rebrand itself. Full Story
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Republican legislators who want to use federal Medicaid expansion dollars are struggling to find common ground between the Perry administration in Texas and the Obama administration in Washington. But they're trying. Full Story
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