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 'Golden Rule' and Texas' battle with paid sick leave

When it comes to the issue of living wage, Texas lawmakers have a real big problem with the Golden Rule.

Pre-existing conditions under attack by Texas Republicans

A lawsuit seeks to invalidate pre-existing condition protections addressed in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Pre-existing conditions are considered any disease or ailment for...

Free Flu Vaccines Available for Texas Children, Adults

The state of Texas has secured 2.8 million doses of flu vaccine for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program and the new Adult Influenza...

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...

Paid sick leave goes into effect for Dallas workers, but Attorney General Ken Paxton...

For many Texas workers, when illness or a family emergency strikes, there is little recourse to take time off if they want to stay...

Number of uninsured Texas children increases for the third year in a row

Texas continues to struggle to provide healthcare access to its population. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of uninsured...

Telehealth Filling in the Gaps During Pandemic

It’s becoming less of an uncommon scene in the age of a pandemic: Patients talking to a doctor via iPad, cell phone or desktop...

Three Ways to Take Care of Yourself During the Coronavirus Mental Health Crisis

While Texans are homebound and social distancing has us on high alert, our mental health is also at risk. While we turn to social...
Texas premature births

Texas premature births rise to 11 out of 100

Texas premature births rise to nearly 11 out of 100. A recently released March of Dimes 2019 report card shows that premature birth...

SXSW 2020 Health Panels Focus on Possible Solutions

At this time, South by Southwest (SXSW) will go on despite global coronavirus concerns. But there is potentially more uplifting news to be found...
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