Healthcare

Texas has the highest uninsured rate of children, adults, and women in the country. Reform Austin is committed to providing in-depth reporting to illuminate the critical issues and challenges Texans are facing in healthcare.
Texas is one of 14 states that refuses to expand Medicaid coverage. Almost 10 years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Texas still ranks last when it comes to affordability and access.
Additionally, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act could cost 1.73 million people healthcare coverage. Texas is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Texas still ranks among the worst for maternal mortality and low overall for women’s health. One in four Texas women are uninsured. Currently, women can obtain maternity Medicaid coverage until 2 months after childbirth. Advocates have argued that the coverage length is insufficient, and to address the maternal mortality crisis, coverage should be expanded to one year. Though Medicaid expansion would have made the biggest stride in improving women’s health, the policy did not get beyond a committee hearing or House floor vote in the 86th Legislative Session.
Approximately 875,000 Texas children do not have health insurance. From 2016 to 2018, the percentage of uninsured children rose from 10.7 percent to 11.2 percent. In Texas, once a child is approved for Medicaid they are covered for six months. After the six-month period, the state requires parents to file income updates monthly to continue the coverage. If the state determines there is a problem, parents are given 10 days to respond with necessary paperwork. This has led to many children being removed from the Medicaid roles, despite still qualifying for the program.
Reform Austin covers access to healthcare, healthcare quality, mental health, public health programs, and vaccinations. We report on laws the Texas Legislature passes and the effects they have on the healthcare system, as well as the laws that fail. In addition, we report on lawmakers involved to ensure our elected leaders are working for the public good.

One in four Texas women are uninsured

Rep. John Bucy (D-Austin) claimed “One in four Texas women of reproductive age are uninsured, totaling 1.5 million Texas women” while presenting his amendment...

Pandemic Fallout: Over 500,000 Texans Left Without Medicaid

According to data from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 500,000 Texans losing their Medicaid health...

Mental Health Curriculum to help Texas Kids

Can a mental health curriculum prevent violence in Texas schools? Two mental health experts share their thoughts on how a mental health curriculum can...

Texas Doctors Urge Vaccination After Measles Death

Since a Texas child died from measles-related complications on Tuesday, doctors have been urging Texans to vaccinate their children as the outbreak spreads across...

Texas Measles Outbreak Reaches 223 Cases, Spreading to Neighboring States

The measles outbreak in Texas has surpassed 200 reported cases and continues to spread, with new infections emerging in California, New York, and Maryland,...

Texas Ranks Dead Last at Providing Health Care

A report ranks Texas 51 out of all 50 states and Washington D.C. when it comes to providing health care.

Texas Emergency Abortion Ban Is Back In Place After An Injunction Was Granted

On Friday a Travis County judge’s order temporarily blocked Texas’s abortion ban on emergency abortions. Just a few hours later, the Attorney General’s office...

San Antonio Hospital May Have a Solution to the Mask Shortage

As the United States now leads the world in the total number of COVID-19 diagnoses, masks and other protective medical equipment for health care...

Man Tests Positive for COVID, Monkeypox, and HIV All At Once

A 36 years old Italian man tested positive for COVID, Monkeypox, and HIV after a trip to Spain. The man has not been identified...

Texas Feud Over Medicaid Is Costing $7 Million A Day

Since last year, Texas and Joe Biden’s White House have been in a Medicaid funding feud that has been costing Texas hospitals about $7...
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