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Health And Human Services Commission

The latest Health And Human Services Commission news from The Texas Tribune.

Texans living in long-term care facilities will be among first people eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

By Juan Pablo Garnham Dec. 4, 2020

Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, among others, were added to the priority list that already included hospital staff working with COVID-19 patients. Full Story

Credit: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
How a glitchy computer system skewed Texas’ coronavirus data and hampered its pandemic response

By Shannon Najmabadi and Edgar Walters Sept. 24, 2020

Local health officials describe the electronic system as “cumbersome,” “archaic” and “really slow," though its performance has improved since it was upgraded in August. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
Texas will allow visitations at nursing homes, other long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases

By Shawn Mulcahy Sept. 17, 2020

Visitors previously were allowed only into long-term care facilities where there were no active cases of the virus among residents and no confirmed cases among staff members in the past two weeks. Full Story

Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune
Texas officials walk back $15 million proposed cuts to women’s and children's health services

By Shannon Najmabadi and Edgar Walters Sept. 15, 2020

The changes to the budget proposal come after lawmakers and advocates protested the previous plan would hurt vulnerable Texans. Full Story

Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune
In shift, Texas begins publishing some data on coronavirus cases at child care centers

By Aliyya Swaby and Emma Platoff Aug. 20, 2020

Without numbers on how many children or staff are in Texas child care facilities — which the state does not report — it’s hard to gauge the magnitude of infections. Full Story

Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune
Coronavirus outbreak at Houston-area nursing home kills 17 residents

By Meena Venkataramanan and Carla Astudillo Updated: Aug. 10, 2020

The news comes as Texas resumes limited visitations in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that meet certain requirements. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
Cecile Young to lead Texas Health and Human Services Commission

By Emma Platoff July 27, 2020

Young, a longtime public servant, will take the helm of an agency of nearly 37,000 employees as it navigates a worsening pandemic and a host of lingering internal problems. Full Story

Credit: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
As coronavirus cases surged, Texas’ contact tracing workforce shrunk

By Emma Platoff June 30, 2020

State health officials say they have enough workers to meet current needs, but some local health departments are scrambling to keep up. With 2,800 workers, Texas is still short of the governor's goal to have 4,000 people contact tracing. Full Story

Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune
Want a coronavirus test in Texas? You may have to wait for hours in a car.

By Shannon Najmabadi June 27, 2020

Months into the pandemic, demand for coronavirus tests is soaring. Texans report problems with almost every facet of the testing process, starting with the glitching websites and unanswered phone lines used to schedule appointments, and extending to long lags before test results come back. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
Analysis: For foster children in Texas, a state of despair

By Ross Ramsey June 17, 2020

Texas isn't properly protecting the children in foster care, according to federal court monitors examining a system that's been dangerous to kids — in the view of the courts — for at least the last decade. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Years after a judge ordered fixes, Texas’ child welfare system continues to expose children to harm, federal monitors say

By Emma Platoff June 16, 2020

Two independent experts appointed to scrutinize the system described “a disjointed and dangerous child protection system ... where harm to children is at times overlooked, ignored or forgotten.” Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
As coronavirus hits Texas, the state's top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — that pays $600,000

By Shannon Najmabadi June 2, 2020

Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson chose not to accept salary and benefits for a temporary position leading one of Texas’ largest and most high-profile agencies. Instead, he continues to earn $636,694 from the Lower Colorado River Authority, more than double what the previous health commissioner made. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Texas will test all residents and staff in state-run homes for people with disabilities

By Sami Sparber May 21, 2020

The test kits for residents of state supported living centers have been ordered and are on their way. The agency is “working on a broader plan to get the test kits for staff," a state official said. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Texas is testing everyone in nursing homes for coronavirus, but not state-run homes for people with disabilities

By Sami Sparber May 18, 2020

The facilities are still only testing residents and patients who are symptomatic or were potentially exposed to the virus, despite concerns raised by employees and family members about outbreaks. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. Some Texans are still being saddled with large bills.

By Shannon Najmabadi May 13, 2020

Congress directed most insurance companies to cover test costs for insured patients in March, and has promised to reimburse providers for testing those who are uninsured. But experts say there are gaps in the protection that can leave patients surprised with bills. Full Story

Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune
Texas still won't say which nursing homes have COVID-19 cases. Families are demanding answers.

By Lomi Kriel and Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune April 30, 2020

Citing a state medical privacy law, Texas is refusing to release the names of long-term care facilities where residents have died from COVID-19, even as those case numbers soar and families plead for information. Full Story

Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune
Texas will not release information about coronavirus clusters at state-run homes for Texans with disabilities

By Sami Sparber April 22, 2020

Residents' families, restricted from visiting in an effort to stop the spread, are pleading for information. Even they aren’t being told how severe the outbreaks are where their loved ones live. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Medical offices are struggling during the pandemic. Texas health officials are proposing a $334 million lifeline.

By Edgar Walters April 17, 2020

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission sent the request to Gov. Greg Abbott and a panel of state legislators. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Texas requests federal funding to cover coronavirus testing for the uninsured

By Edgar Walters April 16, 2020

The federal funds became available in mid-March. Texas has more than 5 million uninsured residents, or about 18% of its population, a higher rate than any other state. Full Story

Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
Expecting a rush of COVID-19 patients, hospitals prepare their most important resource: health care workers

By Emma Platoff April 2, 2020

With elective procedures canceled, hospitals are reassigning staff. But even the best-laid plans may go awry if clinicians fall ill in large numbers. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune