Tag Archives: Texas Department of State Health Services

The state responds to coronavirus

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Like it or not, we need to be prepared. Texas officials are scrambling to remain prepared for a major outbreak of a pneumonia-like disease whose global spread one expert says is now moving into “the next phase.” From the governor’s … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The state responds to coronavirus

The extraordinary danger of being pregnant and uninsured in Texas

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

So utterly appalling. From 2012 through 2015, at least 382 pregnant women and new mothers died in Texas from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, according to the most recent data available from the Department of State Health Services; since then, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The extraordinary danger of being pregnant and uninsured in Texas

“I’m haunted by their eyes”

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We should all be haunted, and outraged, by this. Immigrants held in a McAllen-area U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processing center for migrants — the largest such center in America — are living in overcrowded spaces and sometimes are forced … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Our vaccine exception rates keep going up

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A small change to the law in 2003 has had a big effect over time. As measles cases hit a 25-year high in the United States, Texas medical experts fear the state could see the next outbreak of a vaccine-preventable … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Our vaccine exception rates keep going up

Pickle ’em if you got ’em

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A victory for home foodies. In a victory for home cooks across Texas, the Legislature has expanded the state’s definition of the word “pickle,” allowing for pickled beets, carrots and other produce to be easily sold at farmers’ markets alongside … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s going on in Skull Creek?

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a story from a couple of weeks ago that you may have missed. I know I missed it until it was pointed out to me. For more than two months, the waters of Skull Creek have flowed black, its … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s going on in Skull Creek?

Measles, schmeasles

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Eh, no biggie. With U.S. measles cases this year reaching historic levels since being practically eradicated nearly 20 years ago, a host of bills targeting vaccination policies in Texas don’t appear to be gaining traction in the Legislature. The U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Measles, schmeasles

There’s only one solution to the anti-vax crisis

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They have to be beaten at the ballot box. There’s no other way. On the South steps of the Texas Capitol, state Rep. Briscoe Cain prayed that the children standing beside him would not be mocked for their parents’ decision … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on There’s only one solution to the anti-vax crisis

The anti-vaxxers keep on coming

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Eternal vigilance, and some more problematic legislators getting booted out of office, are required. Among the new Texas proposals is an “informed consent” bill filed by state Representative Bill Zedler, an outspoken anti-vaccine member of the House Public Health Committee. Zedler drew national … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s hard being pregnant in Harris County

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We need to figure this out. Life-threatening, pregnancy-related complications — the iceberg beneath the surface of the U.S. maternal health crisis — are on the rise in Harris County, according to a new report. The report not only confirmed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s hard being pregnant in Harris County

Abbott waives fees for birth certificates for individuals from hurricane-affected counties

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From Diane Trautman on Facebook, also sent to me in email: Governor Greg Abbott has approved a request allowing the state to waive fees for mail-in or walk-in birth certificate issuance requests, and local registrars to waive fees for walk-in birth … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

And then there’s the birth certificate issue

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just another problem that would be exacerbated by a bathroom bill. In order to modify a birth certificate in Texas, the Department of State Health Services requires transgender individuals to present a certified court order stating the recorded sex on … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on And then there’s the birth certificate issue

This session’s unconstitutional abortion bill passes

Posted on May 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Texas senators voted Friday to send a bill banning the most common second-trimester abortion procedure and changing how health care facilities handle fetal remains to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Under Senate Bill 8, which passed 22-9, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on This session’s unconstitutional abortion bill passes

Making vaccination information public

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I support this. While most parents in Texas vaccinate their children, the number of parents opting out of immunizations for non-medical reasons is on the rise. Since Texas changed its laws to allow parents to opt out citing a conscientious … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

House hears “fetal remains” bill

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously? [House Bill 35] would create a registry of organizations that can help pay for burial or cremation of fetal remains. That way, the cost associated with burials would not fall on women, [bill author Rep. Byron] Cook said. The … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on House hears “fetal remains” bill

“Fetal remains” rule blocked

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks ruled Texas cannot require health providers to bury or cremate fetuses, delivering another blow to state leaders in the reproductive rights debate. On Friday afternoon, Sparks wrote in his ruling that Texas Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Fetal remains” rule blocked

SB6 will hurt people

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It will hurt transgender people, who despite what Dan Patrick would have you think, are people like you and me. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has said his so-called bathroom bill isn’t discriminatory because transgender people can update their birth certificates … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Fetal remains” rule still on hold

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Take all the time you need. As he considers a final ruling on the state’s fetal remains burial rule, U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks is delaying the start date of the rule for at least another three weeks. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Fetal remains” rule still on hold

The religious objection to the “fetal remains” rule

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It may not be your religion, but who are we to tell people of sincere religious faith what to do? “The Satanic Temple believes burial rites are a well-established component of religious practice. In addition, members of The Satanic Temple … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“Fetal remains” rule put on hold

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge has delayed Texas’ fetal remains burial rule until Jan. 6. Judge Sam Sparks ruled Thursday afternoon that the Texas Department of State Health Services would have to push back its start date for requiring health providers … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Fetal remains” lawsuit filed

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Today the Center for Reproductive Rights filed new litigation against the state of Texas over unconstitutional new regulations that mandate the burial or cremation of embryonic and fetal tissue that results from abortions, miscarriages, or ectopic pregnancy surgery … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Fetal remains” lawsuit in the works

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready. Health providers and abortion clinics have less than two weeks to figure out how to comply with Texas’ new fetal remains rules — that is, if a lawsuit doesn’t halt the process first. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The costs of the “fetal remains” rule

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to cost a lot of people a lot of money. State health officials have contended that the “minimum costs in complying with the rules” would total $450 a year per health care facility, arguing that those costs … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The costs of the “fetal remains” rule

“Fetal remains” rule goes into effect

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Cue up that next lawsuit. Texas’ proposed rules requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains will take effect Dec. 19, according to state health officials. Despite intense outcry from the medical community and reproductive rights advocates, the state will … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We’re going to be fighting about vaccinations for a while

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I wish it weren’t so, but it is. Texas is one of 18 states that allow non-medical exemptions to the vaccines required for school attendance. California had a similar law allowing non-medical exemptions, until last year when it enacted a law that … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We’re going to be fighting about vaccinations for a while

The next abortion lawsuit should be on its way

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We were warned it would need to happen. Despite intense outcry from the medical community, reproductive rights advocates and funeral directors, Texas isn’t budging on a proposed rule to require the cremation or burial of fetal remains. Following an initial … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black women face much higher risk of pregnancy-related death in Texas

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Any time you’re being compared to a third world country, it’s not a good thing. Black women bear the greatest risk for pregnancy-related death in Texas by far, according to a much-awaited new report, commissioned because the state rate resembles … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Too many kids are not getting vaccinated

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We let this happen, thanks to the fervor of a vocal minority. The number of Texans who exempt their children from vaccination for non-medical reasons rose nearly 9 percent last school year, continuing a now 12-year-long trend that public health … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Too many kids are not getting vaccinated

Texas finds a new way to be hostile to women’s health

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like it must be someone’s job somewhere to come up with stuff like this. A group led by an anti-abortion advocate appears to be one of the largest recipients of state funding from the “Healthy Texas Women” program, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on the “fetal remains” rule change

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s stupid, harmful, unnecessary, expensive, and almost certainly in violation of the SCOTUS ruling in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt. But other than that, no biggie. In the aftermath of a car accident in 2014, Denee Booker was told by … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the “fetal remains” rule change

Get ready for the next abortion lawsuit

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Expect it in a couple of months. Texas’ proposed rules requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains “will almost certainly trigger costly litigation,” reproductive rights lawyers say. In a letter to the Texas Department of State Health Services, lawyers with … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Get ready for the next abortion lawsuit

If we can’t ban it, we’ll BS about it

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The “it” in question is of course abortion, with the state of Texas lying to women about its effects and risks. Death and infertility were just two of the risks a doctor described to Kryston Skinner when she chose to … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on If we can’t ban it, we’ll BS about it

State settles birth certificate lawsuit

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. After undergoing mediation, the state of Texas has reached an agreement with undocumented families in a lawsuit over its denial to issue birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. The state will clarify and expand … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State settles birth certificate lawsuit

First baby affected by Zika born in Texas

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Won’t be the last, unfortunately. A baby boy born with microcephaly in Harris County is the first Zika-affected infant in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday. The baby’s mother contracted Zika in Colombia, and the baby … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on First baby affected by Zika born in Texas