McKenna West has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying she does not trust that the biological parents have the child’s best interest at heart.
Health care
In-depth reporting on public health, healthcare policy, hospitals, and wellness issues shaping communities across Texas, from The Texas Tribune.
Ectopic pregnancy deaths have nearly doubled. Itโs worse in states, like Texas, with abortion bans.
After Texas banned nearly all abortions, patients have struggled to get ectopic care. More than 300 patients here experienced substantial blood loss in 2023 and 2024, compared to 2018 and 2019.
More than 200,000 Texans are waiting for Medicaid approval as enrollment declines
Outdated technology and stricter requirements for Medicaid and SNAP food assistance have made it harder for Texas to give timely approval to applications, state officials and advocates say.
Are you a Texan dealing with rising costs? We want to hear from you.
Tell us how the rise in everyday costs like housing, healthcare and groceries has affected you.
AG Ken Paxton hasn’t challenged the Trump administration over Texasโ $10-billion Medicaid cut even though he sued Biden
The attorney general won a lawsuit against the feds for withholding a Medicaid funding stream three years ago. Texas faces the same cut, but Paxton has stayed quiet.
With voters squeezed by high costs, Texas candidates race to claim affordability mantle
If not carefully vetted, candidatesโ proposals to lower costs could exacerbate future affordability issues, experts say.
In a rare move, Gov. Greg Abbott defends Medicaid funding for Texas
Abbottโs spokesman reiterated that Texas is not doing anything wrong that would disqualify hospitals from receiving nearly $10 billion in Medicaid funding annually.
Texas hospitals say they’re losing $27 million a day in Medicaid funding
Starting Sept. 1, the Trump administration is withholding about $9.8 billion in extra funding that helps hospitals cover the difference between Medicaid payments and the actual cost of services.
Moms who had children via surrogacy urge Texas to preserve the only way they could have families
Texas moms and surrogates say lawmakers can sharpen protections for both parties in contracts and regulate surrogacy agencies, but caution against severely limiting the practice.
California couple confront their surrogate in a Texas court as dispute over newborn escalates
The attorney for the coupleโs surrogate McKenna West said in court she should be the mother of the newborn. The biological parents have a restraining order against West.


