Texas Insight provides timely reporting of healthcare issues and events as they occur within the legislative and regulatory branches of Texas state government.
Comptroller Projects $4.6 Billion Shortfall in Revised Revenue Estimate: Release and Hearing Summary. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today revised the Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE) and now projects a fiscal 2021 ending shortfall of $4.58 billion. The shortfall, which Hegar attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent volatility in oil prices, is a decrease from the $2.89 billion positive year-end balance originally projected in the October 2019 CRE. Read the full report.
HHSC: e-Health Advisory Committee. The Committee gathered to discuss e-Health Advisory Committee (eHAC) status and membership; hear subcommittee reports; hear an update on Telemedicine; discuss National provider identifier and Texas provider identifier; discuss the proposed behavioral health subcommittee of eHAC; discuss Medicaid Technology Modernization, Health Information Technology (HIT) and Health Information Exchange program; and more. Read the full report.
HHSC: Healthy Texas Women Post Award Public Forum. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have reached an agreement to provide comprehensive women’s health services through a Medicaid demonstration waiver over the next five years. Click to view the CMS approval letter (PDF) and CMS approved Healthy Texas Women Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver (PDF). HHS launched the Healthy Texas Women (HTW) program on July 1, 2016. The program provides women’s health and family planning services at no cost to eligible, low-income Texas women. At this meeting, HHSC gave updates on the Healthy Texas Women 1115 waiver, and gave the public will an opportunity to provide comments. Read the full report.
HHSC: Policy Council for Children and Families. The Council gathered to hear a presentation on Telemedicine with high risk children; discuss the 2020 Workgroup Report; discuss extension and flexibility for services and supports placed due to COVID-19; discuss the Legislative Report planning and timeline; and more. Read the full report.
HHSC: Nursing Facility Payment Methodology Advisory Committee. The Nursing Facility Payment Methodology Advisory Committee studies and makes recommendations on the development of a nursing facility reimbursement methodology that incentivizes quality care for people served in a nursing facility, and is cost-effective, streamlined and transparent. Read the full report.
July 22, 2020
- This meeting will be webcast: Mental Health Condition and Substance Use Disorder Parity Workgroup Agenda
July 23, 2020
- This meeting will be webcast: STAR+PLUS Pilot Program Workgroup Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Texas Diabetes Council Agenda
July 24, 2020
- This meeting will be webcast: Drug Utilization Review Board
Texas
- Children, teenagers account for 1 in 10 coronavirus cases in San Antonio
- Harris County officials recommend, not mandate, that school districts stay closed to in-person instruction until October
- Amid COVID surge, rural hospitals forced to seek new solutions for patient care
- These “last responders” deal with the bodies as coronavirus deaths surge in the Rio Grande Valley
- Experts warn against false sense of security as the number of children with COVID-19 Increases in Dallas County
- Facing budget shortfalls, nearly 100 Texas mayors plead with Congress for coronavirus relief funding
- Coronavirus toll on kids missing friends why counselors worry about mental health
U.S.
- States Must Standardize Coronavirus Data, Former C.D.C. Director Says
- Pharma execs say FDA will not lower standards for coronavirus vaccine
- Trump: Americans should wear a mask when they cannot keep social distance
- Biden Announces Plan to Aid Caregivers
- It ‘Looks Very Scary For Renters’ As Federal Eviction Relief Expiration Nears
- White House considers drug pricing executive order, prompting GOP pushback
- Some Vaccine Makers Say They Plan to Profit From Coronavirus Vaccine
- HHS unveils new public coronavirus data system
- U.S. Accuses Hackers of Trying to Steal Coronavirus Vaccine Data for China
- FDA orders removal of fruity Puff Bar vapes
- Graphic: U.S. COVID-19 deaths rise for second week in a row
- Republicans Eye Checks to Families and Billions for Schools in Relief Bill
- Democratic AGs sue Trump administration over LGBTQ health protections rollback
- Record Low Mortgage Rates Put More Cash In Pockets, But May Not Boost Economy Much
- Patient, Can You Spare a Dime?
- Planned Parenthood launches six-figure ad campaign blasting vulnerable GOP senators on COVID-19 bill
- Coronavirus Infections Much Higher Than Reported Cases in Parts of U.S., Study Shows
- Oxford researchers report positive results from early vaccine trial
- Facing ‘a Lot of Blowback,’ Trump’s Surgeon General Steps Up
- More than 100,000 have signed up for coronavirus vaccine testing
- Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today
- Former CDC director says without additional resources children of color will be ‘disproportionately affected’ as schools reopen
- Black Children Are More Likely to Die After Surgery Than White Peers, Study Shows