Past Contributions

• Texas Congressional Democrats urge Gov. Greg Abbott to let Planned Parenthood stay on Medicaid

  By Shannon Najmabadi Feb. 5, 2021

  Their plea comes just days after a state district judge temporarily stopped the state from excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. Full Story 

• Texas temporarily blocked from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid

  By Shannon Najmabadi Updated: Feb. 3, 2021

  A state district judge ruled Wednesday. That's the same day the state had given Planned Parenthood patients to find new doctors after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas officials who have long sought to block the health provider from participating in Medicaid. Full Story 

• Republican lawmakers push to make Texas’ anti-abortion laws among the most restrictive in the nation

  By Shannon Najmabadi Feb. 1, 2021

  With the GOP in control of state government and “a favorable backstop from the courts, it’s going to be a no-holds-barred approach for Republicans on abortion,” one political science professor said. Full Story 

• Texas has a problem with its COVID-19 vaccination data, and the stakes are high. Now the state is scrambling to solve it.

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 20, 2021

  As the state began the massive undertaking of distributing the coronavirus vaccine, early data problems left state officials with immunization records that were outdated, incomplete and sometimes misleading. Full Story 

• Low-income Texans struggle to find new doctors as state officials boot Planned Parenthood off Medicaid

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 19, 2021

  The state's health commission gave Planned Parenthood's Medicaid patients until Feb. 3 to find new doctors. Experts say there are limited places low-income patients can go, in part because Texas already has a shortage of doctors who accept Medicaid due to the state’s low payment rates. Full Story 

• Already in crisis, Texas hospitals treat record numbers of COVID-19 patients while preparing for another post-holiday surge

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 7, 2021

  The state has reported at least 28,545 fatalities tied to the virus, available intensive care unit beds are at a low and health experts say Texans can’t vaccinate their way out of the current surge. Full Story 

• First Texas case of more contagious coronavirus variant identified in Harris County

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 7, 2021

  It does not cause a more severe disease, and vaccines “are expected to be effective against it,” the health services department said of the strain. Full Story 

• Texas gives Medicaid recipients using Planned Parenthood until Feb. 3 to find new health care provider

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 5, 2021

  The extension comes after the conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in November sided with Texas officials who have long tried to block Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the poor. Full Story 

• Early in the pandemic, Texas banned most abortions. After the ban lifted, second-trimester abortions jumped, a new study shows.

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 4, 2021

  Texas officials cited a need to preserve medical supplies as a reason to crack down on abortions. A new study finds that many Texans left the state during this time seeking the procedure. Full Story 

• Austin won’t be allowed to restrict dining-in at restaurants, Texas Supreme Court says

  By Shannon Najmabadi Jan. 1, 2021

  Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown sought to restrict dine-in food and beverage service both indoors and outdoors from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting on New Year’s Eve and ending at 6 a.m. Sunday. The measure allowed restaurants to offer drive-thru, curbside pick-up, take out, or delivery services. Full Story