The 88th Texas Legislature adjourned its regular session on May 29th with the passage of several key healthcare reforms that address access to maternal, reproductive, and behavioral healthcare. The FY 2024-2025 state budget increased funding for health and human services from the previous biennium by 17.3% to $102 billion in total funds, much … Read more
During its regular session this year, the Texas Legislature passed a $321.3 billion ($144 billion in general funds) state budget for the 2024-2025 biennium, more than a third or $102 billion of which would be devoted to health and human services. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Departments of Family … Read more
After notable delay, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (TMMMRC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) presented the key data and recommendations from the joint 2022 Maternal Health and Safety Initiatives Biennial Report on Friday. At the time of the report’s expected release in September, DSHS announced that it … Read more
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released its 5-year plan on healthcare services for executive and legislative consideration last month, which focused one of its many recommendations on improving healthcare access in rural border counties. The Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC) focused on factors that affect health equity in Texas and … Read more
Following a rally at the Capitol by maternal health advocates this week, members of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) are calling on state leaders to address maternal health equity in the upcoming legislative session. Nakeenya Wilson, who sits on the review committee at the sole community advocate, is calling … Read more
A coalition of organizations advocating for Black maternal health plan to hold a rally at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of the 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Joint Biennial Report. The Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (MHEC), an … Read more
The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday it will offer Emergency Medical Service scholarships to assist students looking to pursue careers in the EMS field. The Texas Legislature passed a $21.7 million EMS education and recruitment initiative as part of its American Rescue Plan Act package in October 2021. The legislation … Read more
Following Thursday’s vote by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to recommend the updated FDA-approved COVID-19 booster shots for use, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced doses would become available statewide next week. Initial shipments of the 900,000 booster dose allocation for Texas are expected to arrive at … Read more
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported Tuesday that an adult resident of Harris County died after being diagnosed with MPV or monkeypox virus. The case is under investigation to determine if monkeypox was the cause. DSHS said the patient was “severely immunocompromised” and maintains that infection for most people is not life-threatening. … Read more
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced it has received a shipment of 14,780 doses of the two-dose JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine on Monday. The delivery from the federal Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) supplements a 3,000 dose supply received earlier this month. DSHS has established a Vaccine Allocation and Ordering System through … Read more