Health

Texas Medicaid Debate Complicated By Politics And Poverty

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:12:27 +0000

When the sun rises over the Rio Grande Valley, the cries of the urracas — blackbirds — perched on the tops of palm trees swell to a noisy, unavoidable cacophony. That is also the strategy, it could be said, that local officials, health care providers and frustrated valley residents are trying to use to persuade Gov.

Non-Profit Asks Travis County for Money to Deliver 10,500 Meals

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:32:25 +0000

A non-profit organization that provides food to elderly and homebound people is asking Travis County for money to help deal with the sequester. Those across-the-board federal spending cuts include about $120,000 that would have gone to a local Meals on Wheels program that pays for food to be delivered to senior centers run by the city or the county.

The organization is requesting $61,000 from Travis County to pay for the "Congregate Meals Program."

New Center Can Supervise Court-Ordered Parental Visits

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:08:00 +0000

Victims of spousal abuse in Austin have a new option if their children are to receive supervised visits with the other parent. Travis County has opened PlanetSafe at 11^th and Nueces, a supervised visitation and safe exchange center. Its grand opening is today.

The facility is operated by the local non-profit Safe Place, and was established with the help of $600,000 in federal grants from the Office of Violence Against Women. Travis County supplied the use of the building for a nominal rent and is paying for staffing.

Should Legal Blood Alcohol Limit Be Lowered?

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:16:55 +0000

The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on states to toughen drunk driving laws, but Mothers Against Drunk Driving says there are better ways to fight drinking and driving.

The NTSB recommends lowering the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.05 percent from the current 0.08 percent.

Health Officials Warn to Reduce Consumption of These Gulf Fish

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:52:00 +0000

Texas health authorities are expanding their warning that some people should not eat certain fish from the Gulf of Mexico.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says high levels of mercury mean women of childbearing age and children 12 and younger should eat no amount of species, including Blackfin tuna, blue marlin, king mackerel, wahoo, shark or swordfish.

Why a Slowdown in Health Spending is Starting to Look Real

Julie Rovner, NPR — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:24:57 +0000

So you know all that talk about how the boatload of money going to health care will bankrupt the nation if something isn't done soon?

Well, it turns out that while politicians were bickering, the problem started taking care of itself. Well, a little bit.

While not solved, the growth in health spending has definitely slowed. That's the consensus of a series of studies out in the past few week.

Austin Wants Your Old Drugs

Bobby Blanchard — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:38:00 +0000

The City of Austin is offering a free, easy and anonymous way to dispose of expired prescription drugs.

The city will host its annual drug take-back day this Saturday at three locations around town, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The three take-back locations in Austin are Cornerstone Church, City of Austin Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Barton Creek Square Mall. At these locations, residents can anonymously drop of drugs and syringes in a way that is environmentally safe.

As New Flu Cases Rise in China, U.S. Steps Up Its Response

Michaeleen Doucleff — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:55:23 +0000

The toll from a new flu strain is mounting in China.

Forty-three people have been sickened and 11 have died from the virus, the World Health Organization said Friday.

The pace of infections has quickened over the past few days, with three to five cases reported daily.

But there are still no signs that the H7N9 bird flu can spread between people, the WHO said.

Military Suicides: A Story From the Edge

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:44:04 +0000

Almost once every hour a U.S. military veteran takes his or her life. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, on average.

Austin veteran Andrew O’Brien almost become one of them. He survived a suicide attempt in 2010, after returning from a 12-month deployment to Iraq. Now he’s telling his story to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and military suicides.

Austin and Travis County Partner for National Public Health Week (Update)

Filipa Rodrigues — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:19:19 +0000

Update: The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is holding a meeting this afternoon to present and outline key goals and objectives of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The action-oriented plan is designed to improve the health of Austin and Travis County residents. It will highlight community health issues like obesity and access to primary care.

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. at City Hall.

Take Two Aspirin and Call... Yourself: The Technology and Ethics of Self Diagnosis

Jennifer Stayton, KUT News — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Imagine this scenario: your throat aches; you're sneezing; and you feel chilly and fatigued. A cold? Maybe. The flu? Possibly. You sneeze into a specially formulated tissue, and the resulting color transformation in the tissue gives you your answer.

UT App Measures Effect of Family Planning Cutbacks

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:17:09 +0000

The number of women served by a state family planning program in Travis County dropped 90 percent over two years, according to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin.

That happened as funding dropped by about the same amount, which contributed to the closure of seven family planning clinics.

UT’s Texas Policy Evaluation Project released a web app today that measures the impact of cuts to the Department of State Health Services' family planning programs.

Senate Approves CPRIT Reform Legislation

Becca Aaronson, Texas Tribune — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:58:23 +0000

The Texas Senate unanimously approved two bills Wednesday to reform the beleaguered Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas amid continuing controversy over grant awards.

CPRIT Foundation to Close in 60 Days

Veronica Zaragovia, KUT News — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:46:38 +0000

The private foundation that’s given financial support to the state’s troubled cancer-fighting agency says it’s shutting down.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas – known as CPRIT – has its own problems. The agency is being investigated for its handling of some taxpayer-funded grants.

On Tuesday, though, it was the private foundation formed to supplement the salaries of CPRIT’s top executives that brought the wrath of state lawmakers.

Perry, Cruz, Castro Bros. Face Off Over Medicaid Expansion (Update)

Austin Feldman and Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:25:26 +0000

Update: The biggest Republicans in Texas stood side-by-side today and argued against expanding Texas Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said it doesn’t matter if the federal government has offered to cover the full cost of the expansion for the first three years and 90 percent thereafter.