Texas Health and Human Services Commission

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is proposing cuts to the reimbursement rates for certain services — like ventilators and wheelchairs. Providers told a public hearing Monday the new rates could hurt medical supply companies and their patients.

Texas' application for the Rural Health Transformation program requests $200 million every year of the five-year program. The state is proposing the "Rural Texas Strong" project, which includes a range of proposals to improve health care access and quality in rural areas — such as workforce development and utilizing AI.

Several major health agencies in Texas are under review by the state's sunset commission — including the Department of State Health Services and Health and Human Services Commission. Advocates said this cycle could have a significant impact on services and access moving forward.

As Texas develops its application for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding, rural hospital leaders say stabilizing their facilities should be a top priority. "Without it, all the planning in the world will not matter because there will be no hospital left to transform," one said.

Texas health officials are asking for public input for the state’s application for a new federal rural health program. People can submit their comments through Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Group fundraising could help fill local budget gaps created by federal health defunding.

Inconsistent financial help could potentially burden Dallas County taxpayers with an estimated nearly $383 million per year for HIV prevention and treatment costs.

At least nine state employees have been fired after they were accused of compromising thousands of Texas Health and Human Services Commission users.

The base wage for workers who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is $10.60 an hour in Texas. Lawmakers are considering a raise to $12, but advocates say more is needed.

More than five dozen groups — including United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the Tarrant Area Food Bank — wrote in support of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's request for $300 million to improve processing times for Medicaid and SNAP applications.

The request, which includes hiring more staff and updating the online application system, comes as applicants must wait for months to receive approval for benefits.

The 15th Court of Appeals has exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving the state, among other things. The ruling comes in response to Dallas County's ongoing lawsuit against Texas over the backlog of mentally ill detainees at the county jail.