Straus Forms Select Committee on Mental Health
The committee will review and make recommendations on substance abuse, care for veterans, identifying illnesses early and improving delivery of mental health care. Full Story
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Hellerstedt to Lead Texas Public Health Agency
John Hellerstedt will be the next commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, officials said Monday. Full Story
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![Dr. John Hellerstedt will be the next leader of the Texas Department of State Health Services.]()
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2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the Health Care Track
The Health Care track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on the Legislature, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. We also featured a conversation with Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor. Full Story
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Scrutiny Follows Bland, Deputy Deaths
In the coming days, the deaths of Sandra Bland and Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth will continue to jolt statewide conversations about how the Texas criminal justice system deals with — or fails to deal with — mental health issues. Full Story
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Video: Health Care and the 84th Legislative Session
At our 5/4 symposium on health care, state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, the chairman of the House Public Health Committee, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, the chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, talked about how the issue is playing out in the 84th session. Full Story
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State Health Tests Prodded Blue Bell Recall
Shortly after lab tests on two Blue Bell ice cream flavors came back “presumptive positive” for Listeria, an assistant commissioner at the state health agency reached for the phone to call Brenham. Full Story
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Health Agency Bill Pulled Down Amid Heated Abortion Debate
UPDATED: Debate on legislation to re-evaluate a state health agency morphed into a fight over abortion in the Texas House on Thursday, and the bill was pulled down after a pair of anti-abortion amendments were added to the bill over the author's objections. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Terrell State Psychiatrists Resign After Accusations
Two psychiatrists at Terrell State Hospital resigned this week after they were accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from a pharmaceutical company to use their state positions to promote the company’s products. Full Story
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Lawmaker's Bill Aims to Prevent Another Fertilizer Plant Blast
State Rep. Kyle Kacal has introduced legislation that he hopes would prevent another accident like the explosion of a West fertilizer plant in 2013 that killed 15 and injured more than 200. Full Story
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![A vehicle near the remains of a fertilizer plant burning after an explosion in West, Texas, near Waco.]()
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State Scrambling to Find Housing for Sex Offenders
The state agency responsible for supervising, monitoring and providing treatment to sexually violent predators is out of space to house sex offenders, agency officials told state lawmakers on Wednesday. Full Story
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Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
Finding a Texas Way to Cover the Uninsured
Texas hospitals want legislators to find a way for the state to draw down billions in federal Affordable Care Act dollars to cover the uninsured and alleviate the burden on local taxpayers. This is the third video in our State of Mind series. Full Story
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Sources: Lakey Leaving DSHS for Position at UT System
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
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Battles Near and Far Over Medicaid and More
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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Roundup: Health Agency Overhaul and Abbott's Agenda
This week in the Roundup: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott highlights the issues he'll prioritize in the coming legislative session, the state loses out on millions of federal dollars for pre-kindergarten programs, and Texas' health care system is on the cusp of a major overhaul. Full Story
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Sunset Commission Backs Bid to Consolidate State Health Agencies
With the endorsement Wednesday of the Sunset Advisory Commission, legislators are set to move forward with a consolidation of the state's five health agencies into a single health commission with seven divisions. Full Story
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Ebola Task Force's Report Includes Call for New Facility
In a new report, the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response called for the establishment of a treatment facility specifically for children, among other recommendations. Full Story
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![Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Director Dr. Brett Giroir during a press conference at the Texas State Capitol on October 17th, 2014 joined by Gov. Perry, Dr. Kyle Janek, Col. Steve McCraw and Chief Nim Kidd]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
State's New Site to Help Low-Income Women Learn About Health Services
Saying Wednesday that low-income Texas women will no longer wonder how to find out about state-provided health services, Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek unveiled a new information website. Full Story
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![Texas Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek at a Texas Tribune event.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Obama, Perry Discuss Next Steps on Ebola
During a phone call Friday, President Obama congratulated Gov. Rick Perry and other Texas officials on reaching a major milestone in the state's fight against Ebola. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Some Texas Women Seeking Abortions May Look to Their Doctors
While many Texas women now live hundreds of miles away from abortion facilities, some may still have another option: their doctor’s office. Full Story
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5 Takeaways From the Sunset Commission's Review of Health Services
In a new report, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recommends that the state’s health and human services system undergo a massive overhaul. Here are five takeaways from the report. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Jessica Schaefers