Texas Insight’s Recent Reports
- Senate Health and Human Services: Behavioral Health: The Committee met to discuss the following: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, 85th Legislature and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation, including but not limited to: Initiatives to increase capacity and reduce waitlists in the mental health system, including the construction of state hospitals and new community grant programs… The committee met on numerous issues, but this report focuses on behavioral health. See upcoming reports for coverage of the other issues on the agenda.
- Senate Health and Human Services: Maternal Mortality: The Committee met to discuss the following: 1) Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, 85th Legislature and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation, including but not limited to: Initiatives to better understand the causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, including the impact of legislation passed during the first special session of the 85th Legislature. Recommend ways to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and methods to better collect data related to maternal mortality and morbidity… The committee met on numerous issues, and this report focuses on maternal safety, mortality and morbidity.
- Medicaid Prescription Drugs: This posting explores prescription drug coverage under Texas Medicaid, including related spending and trends. Pharmacy costs borne by the state’s Medicaid program increased 90 percent from 2001 to 2011, prompting the state to carve pharmacy into Medicaid managed care in 2012. Continued growth in pharmacy costs is attributed to the aging of the population, specialty drug development, new marketing practices, and recent price increases in many generic drugs.
Looking Ahead
- October 2, 2018: Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council
- October 3, 2018: Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response
- October 3, 2018: Joint Interim Committee on Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substances
- October 4, 2018: Proposed Rules Regarding Peer Specialist Services
State and Federal Healthcare News
Texas
- Texas spent less on students with disabilities. But did it break the law?
- Report: Heidi Group still failing to serve target number of patients for reproductive health
- Texas babies born with syphilis more than doubled last year, part of nationwide trend
- Texas lawsuit impacts health care for families with autism
U.S.
- Buyer Beware: New Cheaper Insurance Policies May Have Big Coverage Gaps
- Dem governor hopefuls see winning issue in Medicaid expansion
- Do Migrant Teenagers Have Abortion Rights? Two Volatile Issues Collide in Court.
- GOP lawmaker touts move to lift limits on telehealth for opioid treatment
- Dozens of Doctors Who Screen Immigrants Have Record of “Egregious Infractions,” Report Says
- Think You Don’t Need a Flu Shot? Here are 5 Reasons to Change Your Mind
- In Rare Bipartisan Accord, House and Senate Reach Compromise on Opioid Bill
- Perspective: A Heart Device Can Save Lives, But Doctors Need to Explain The Downsides
- E.P.A. Places the Head of Its Office of Children’s Health on Leave
- Cancer Center Switches Focus on Fundraising As Problems Mount
- Drug Industry Tries to Slip $4 Billion Windfall into Opioid Bill