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.

The American Rescue Plan Sweetens the Deal on Medicaid Expansion in Texas

While much has been written about the direct cash assistance in President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, The American Rescue Plan Act also includes...

Texas GOP Officials Celebrate Abortion Ban With Empty Promises For Improving Women’s Healthcare

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Republicans are making promises to increase funding for maternal health care. But, Texas...

Unsafe Abortions Will Not Be Counted In Maternal Deaths

A committee that tracks maternal deaths in Texas will not be allowed to count those resulting from abortions. According to The Houston Chronicle, the Texas...

Before Sine Die, A Busy Weekend for Texas Lawmakers

Though the last day of the legislative session on Monday was a mostly ceremonial affair, Saturday and...

Tony Tinderholt puts Texas children's health at risk

If the people Tinderholt is supposed to represent can’t trust him to do that, what can they trust him to do?

Consumer protection measure against surprise medical billing faces implementation issues

This year, Texas legislators passed a bill to protect patients from surprise medical billing; however, implementation of the law, which is set to go...

How Texas Is Preparing for Coronavirus

There are 10 cases of coronavirus in Texas in different stages of quarantine. All the patients are in isolation at Lackland Air Force base...

COVID-19 Testing Comes up Short of Gov. Abbott’s Promise As Case, Death Counts Rise

A check of testing activity finds Texas is still not meeting the coronavirus testing levels called for in Gov. Greg Abbott’s report on reopening...

Two Texas Planned Parenthoods Won’t Give Back PPP Loans

Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and Houston do not intend to return Payroll Protection Program loans they received under the first COVID-19 relief bill...

Don’t Skip Your 2020 Mammogram; Your Life May Depend on It

This month ask your mom and your girlfriends if they have made appointments for their annual mammograms. There’s no better time than October, which...
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