The latest health care news from The Texas Tribune.
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
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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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The Health and Human Services Commission has canceled a second contract involving Jack Stick, who resigned as the agency's top lawyer amid concerns over a $110 million contract that was not competitively bid. Full Story
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The Tribune's Jim Malewitz tries to get at, in a piece also published in Politico Magazine, the root causes that spurred the town of Denton to approve a ban on fracking last month. Full Story
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A bill filed Monday could create a financial incentive for students to become mental health care providers. Senate Bill 239 would create a loan reimbursement program for certain licensed mental health workers who assist the underserved. Full Story
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The Houston Chronicle's Theodore Schleifer has the goods on next year's mayoral election in Houston. Full Story
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Three Texas breweries filed a lawsuit against the state for allegedly "stifling the craft beer renaissance," so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with "Tears Over Beers" by Modern Baseball. Full Story
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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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With federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program set to expire next year, children’s health advocates and Gov. Rick Perry are urging Congress to reauthorize it as soon as possible. Full Story
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A couple of popular government programs for children — one helping with early education and the other providing health care — are facing funding questions. Full Story
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