Medicaid

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 17, 2011

Root's scoop on Rick Perry's working retirement, Aaronson maps poverty in Texas, Aguilar on a voting rights warning shot from the U.S. Attorney General, Galbraith on the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking operations, Grissom on the drop in executions, Hamilton and M. Smith on UT-Austin President Bill Powers' rough year, Murphy and Tan and Dehn on the shortage of psychiatrists and Ramshaw on the federal refusal to exclude operators like Planned Parenthood from family planning programs: The best of our best content from December 12 to 16, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Move to Managed Care Comes With Strings Attached

By Carrie Feibel, Houston Public Media Dec. 15, 2011

The federal government has granted Texas permission to move almost all of its Medicaid patients into managed care in an effort to save money. But as Carrie Feibel of KUHF News reports, hospitals will now have to do more to show how they spend — and prove they deserve — state money. Full Story
Was Federal Ruling a Win or a Loss for Family Planning Providers?

By Thanh Tan Dec. 14, 2011

The federal government's rejection this week of a state request to exclude certain providers — namely Planned Parenthood — from the Women's Health Program came as a victory to some family planning advocates, and a travesty to others. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Combs: State Revenues Higher Than Expected

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 12, 2011

The state's finances are in better shape than previously believed, the state comptroller said Monday, with a new projection showing $1.6 billion more than lawmakers expected, even after the state covers part of the its Medicaid shortfall and restores some cuts to state agencies and universities. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Feds Approve One Health Waiver, Reject Another

By Emily Ramshaw Dec. 12, 2011

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has turned down Texas’ request to run a family planning program that excludes some providers — namely Planned Parenthood. But it approved Texas' request for a waiver to expand Medicaid managed care. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Looming Medicaid Payment Cuts Worry Therapy Providers

By Jessica Mahoney Dec. 12, 2011

Some cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates will take effect on Jan. 1, putting Texas’ Medicaid spending on par with that of many other states. But as Jessica Mahoney of KUT News reports, providers of physical, occupational and speech therapy worry many could be left without services. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune
TribLive: Castro on Health Reform, Taxing the Rich

By Evan Smith Dec. 2, 2011

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, offered his take on issues he'd face if elected to Congress next year, including same-sex marriage, Afghanistan, taxing the rich and health reform. Full Story
Drug Company Payments to Doctors Raise Concerns of Conflicting Interests

By Emily Ramshaw and Ryan Murphy Nov. 25, 2011

Thousands of Texas doctors, researchers and medical experts — including more than 100 who are employed by the state and are paid with taxpayer dollars — routinely supplement their salaries with income from pharmaceutical companies. Full Story
Study: Texas Ranks Last in Mental Health Spending

By Claire Cardona Nov. 10, 2011

Despite an increase in state spending on mental health care, Texas still ranks last in per capita funding for people with mental illness, according to a report issued by the National Alliance of Mental Illness. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Lawsuit Gives Cover to Texas Lawmakers

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 7, 2011

Judges have been telling legislators what to do since we set up government to replace knife fights and bar brawls. And legislators use the courts to make them do unpopular but necessary things that voters don't like. School finance, for instance. Full Story
Randy Neugebauer: The TT Interview

By Elizabeth Titus Nov. 1, 2011

The GOP congressman from Lubbock on Gov. Rick Perry, cuts in direct payments that could be headed for Texas farmers, his hopes for the supercommittee and what the 2012 elections will say about Americans' view of the economy. Full Story
In Tax Speech, Perry to Push for Balanced Budget Amendment

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Oct. 25, 2011

Though Gov. Rick Perry's economic speech today is expected to focus on his proposal for a national flat tax, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the governor is also expected to push for a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Full Story

Credit: Gage Skidmore
Things to Do: The House's Interim Charges

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 20, 2011

The House's interim charges are out, starting with instructions to everyone to consider ways to improve the state's manufacturing capability and increase the "transparency, accountability, and efficiency" in state government. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Straus Releases Interim Charges for House Committees

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 20, 2011

House Speaker Joe Straus has released the interim charges that will direct the work of the lower chamber's legislative committees for the next 11 months — and lawmakers will be busy. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Perry "Hates" Cancer, but Budget Cuts Slash Cervical Cancer Screenings

By Emily Ramshaw and Thanh Tan Oct. 17, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry "hates" cervical cancer, which is why he tried to make the HPV vaccine mandatory. Yet he signed a budget that defunds Planned Parenthood, which provides four times more cervical cancer screenings in Texas than abortions. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Gage Skidmore / Ed Uthman
Video: Planned Parenthood Clinics Close In Hidalgo County

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan Oct. 16, 2011

The state's family planning reductions hit the Planned Parenthood Association of Hidalgo County especially hard. In September, the association shut down four of its eight health clinics and laid off half of its staff. Anti-abortion advocates argue the state should not "subsidize the abortion industry." The Trib's Thanh Tan and Justin Dehn report from Hidalgo County. Full Story
Pharmacies Feeling Pressure of Reduced Medicaid Fees

By Claire Cardona Oct. 14, 2011

Some independent pharmacies may have to lay off workers and cut services because of looming lower dispensing fees. Beginning in March, a new managed-care plan will reduce the amount pharmacies receive for Medicaid prescriptions. Full Story

Credit: Delcia Lopez
As Costs Rise, Texas Doctors Experiment With Care, Payment Models

By Emily Ramshaw Oct. 7, 2011

As the U.S. grapples with rising health care costs and a system that rewards doctors and hospitals for how sick their patients get, not how healthy they become, Texas providers are experimenting with new payment and care delivery models. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Interactive: The Problem with Medicare Spending — and Proposals to Fix it

By Becca Aaronson Oct. 6, 2011

Use our interactive to understand the budget hole federal lawmakers have dug by not updating the Medicare funding formula, Texas physicians’ response to the problem, and the cost of varied proposals to fix it. Full Story

Credit: Pasqualantonio Pingue
In Third Debate, Perry Prepared But Stumbles

By Emily Ramshaw, Ryan Murphy, Becca Aaronson and Jay Root Sept. 22, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry headed into his third Republican presidential debate with a lot to prove. He left with a mixed bag. Full Story