health care

Report Asks: Why Aren’t Hispanics Sharing in Austin's Boom?

Joy Diaz, KUT News — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:55:09 +0000

A five-year effort from a group of Hispanic community leaders is about to wrap up. In 2008, the Austin City Council asked the group to evaluate the quality of life for Hispanics in the city. They found big disparities between Hispanics and their peers in areas including education, health care, even access to cultural institutions.

Last night, about fifty people came together at City Hall to share ideas on how Hispanics in Austin could bridge those gaps.

From Austin to Boston: Artificial Limb Company to Help Marathon Bombing Victims Run Again

Joy Diaz, KUT News — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:02:08 +0000

It’s been a month since the Boston Marathon bombings that injured more than 250 people. At least fourteen lost limbs.

Experts say it takes healthy, strong people about six weeks to recover enough from an amputation to begin considering their prosthetic choices. Austin-based Hanger Orthopedics, one of the largest prosthetics and orthotics companies in the US, says it’s ready to help.

Mental Health, Physical Health: $10M Program Looks to Help Both

Kate McGee, KUT News — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:20:00 +0000

Texas is trying to help some Medicaid recipients with behavioral disorders improve their health.

The state’s health department has embarked on a $10 million dollar project aimed at preventing people with mental health or substance abuse issues from developing chronic diseases.

Program Keeps Patients From Returning to Hospitals

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:05:00 +0000

Washington’s health care law has prompted some hospitals to change how they care for patients who are at the greatest risk of being readmitted. One program at the Seton Healthcare Family aims to spend a little to save a lot.

Carla Herber has worked in hospitals since she was a teenager. In her senior year of high school, she completed her EMT training.

Computer Issues Hound Launch of Health Insurance Exchanges

Julie Appleby — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:31:49 +0000

Online insurance markets set to begin selling health coverage to consumers next October may be hampered by software delays.

State regulators learned late last week that an electronic system most insurers will use to submit their policies for state and federal approvals won't be ready for testing next month, as originally planned.

Before Health Exchange Deadline, Perry Reaffirms Stance

Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:09:23 +0000

Ahead of a Friday deadline to decide, Gov. Rick Perry's office has reaffirmed that Texas will not implement a major tenet of federal health reform — a state-based online marketplace for consumers to purchase coverage.

That means the federal government will have to roll out a program for Texas instead. Every state must have an exchange by 2014, the year “Obamacare” — which many Republicans had hoped would be repealed if Mitt Romney won the presidency — requires most Americans to carry coverage.

Allison Castle, Perry’s spokeswoman, said Texas won’t design its own exchange because there is “really no such thing as a ‘state exchange.’”

No Simple Solution for Austin Homeless (Updated)

Joy Diaz, KUT News and Joy Diaz, KUT News — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:58:21 +0000

Update: Oct. 25, 2012 at 9 a.m.:

After airing this story on Monday, listeners have been wondering what happened to the Yount family. The first thing was that a listener drove by the parking lot where they were and gave them a cell phone. Others have called asking for ways in which they can help. KUT now has a way to get in touch with the Younts. If you have any interest in helping them, you can contact KUT.

Original Story posted on KUT.org Oct. 23, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.:

The city of Miami claims to have taken almost half of its homeless population off the streets in the last 10 years. In Austin, where homeless services are stretched to the limit, the City Council is looking for new solutions. Last night, council members met with officials from Miami. The challenges of one local homeless family that is struggling on the streets show how complex the problem can be.

Humana to Select Local Charity for Grant

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:37:05 +0000

Three Austin charities are finalists vying for a $100,000 grant from the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic branch of health insurance company Humana, Inc. Humana will make the award to a nonprofit that serves Central Texans in "dire need of assistance," ranging from seniors to children.

The finalist include Family Eldercare, Foundation Communities, and the Marbridge Foundation.

Should Texans be Able to Cross State Lines for Health Insurance?

Laura Rice, KUT News — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:03:05 +0000

State lawmakers want to know what would happen if Texans were allowed to go across state lines to buy health insurance. It’s an idea some politicians say could reduce healthcare costs.

Today, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs looks at the feasibility and fiscal impact of changing the insurance code to allow that.

Senators will also talk about whether volunteer firefighters should be protected from being fired for missing work because they were responding to an emergency.

Free Birth Control Insurance Coverage Takes Effect Today

Mary Mattia — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:17:28 +0000

Starting today, millions of women are going to receive birth control coverage at no upfront cost, a change supporters say gives women greater access and control over their own health care.

Through a provision in the Affordable Care Act, “non-grandfathered” insurance plans must provide eight new, free prevention-related health services for policies renewed or issued on or after September 23, 2012.

The new services, provided with no cost-sharing, include: well-woman exams, screening for gestational diabetes, HPV DNA testing, domestic violence screenings and counseling, HIV screenings, breastfeeding supplies, contraception and family counseling services.

Report: Texas Needs to Catch Up in Quality of Health Care

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 19:18:34 +0000

A new report says Texas is dead last compared to other states when it comes to the overall quality of health care.

The report was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Home health care was the worst performing category in Texas, earning the lowest possible rating in terms of quality. The report also showed declines in diabetes care, nursing homes and treating chronic diseases.

“Because we’re comparing to other states and not some fantasy world, we know it is possible, we know other states are achieving higher performance levels," says Ernest Moy with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "And so I don’t think there’s necessarily a reason to think that Texas can’t also achieve that higher level of performance.”

Why Many Young Adults Might Lose Coverage if Health Law Falls

Julie Rovner, NPR — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:57:32 +0000

When it comes to health care, even the seemingly easy things become hard.

Take coverage for young adults under the Affordable Care Act.

It's one of the most successful — and popular — provisions of the law that have taken effect so far.

Health Care Law Grant Helping Austin Clinic Expand

Laura Rice, KUT News — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:38:56 +0000

An Austin health clinic is getting $650,000 from the federal government as part of the Obama Administration’s health care overhaul.

People’s Community Clinic is one of more than 200 clinics nationwide to receive money. People’s Community Clinic is using the money to expand access for patients by creating more clinic space.

“Every day there are people who call who would like appointments who we can’t see. And so this is an opportunity to make sure that we have more capacity to meet more of the needs in our community,” said Regina Rogoff, People’s Community Clinic CEO.

Trained Interpreters Can Help Prevent Medical Errors

Michelle Andrews — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:06:11 +0000

When someone arrives at the hospital who doesn't speak English very well, it's common for workers at the hospital who are fluent in that language —doctors, nurses, even administrative staff — to step in and act as the patient's interpreter.

Though they may be well-meaning, not to mention more affordable than trained interpreters, relying on such accidental interpreters during medical treatment is not the best idea, research has found.

Think Tank Crunches Health Prices for the Masses

Julie Rovner, NPR — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:52:04 +0000

It turns out we may not know nearly as much about all the money spent on health care in the U.S.